04/01/2026
Un petit point pratique pour nos amis gardien du but.
According to Law 12, an indirect free kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their penalty area, touches the ball with the hand/arm after releasing it and before it has touched another player.
However, Law 12 also states that a goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) when bouncing it on the ground or throwing it in the air.
In reality, there are times when a goalkeeper throws the ball (usually to clear it with their foot) and then catches it again inside their penalty area before the ball touches the ground. This may result from:
➡ an accidental fumble
➡ distraction by an opponent who is nearby, or
➡ the goalkeeper’s hesitation/change of mind after throwing the ball (e.g. they see a team-mate who is in a better position)
In such cases, the goalkeeper is still considered to be in control of the ball with their hands/arms and is not punished with a free kick (no offence), unless they control the ball for more than 8 seconds (from the moment they gained possession of the ball).
However, if the goalkeeper:
➡ places the ball with their hand on the ground
➡ deliberately drops the ball to their feet
➡ rolls the ball along the ground
the goalkeeper is no longer permitted to handle the ball again before it has touched another player. In these cases, the referee awards an indirect free kick to the opposing team (or a direct free kick if the second touch with the hand/arm occurs outside the penalty area). There is no disciplinary sanction for the goalkeeper.