Question Number: 15296

Law 17 - Corner Kick 4/26/2007

RE: Rec/Comp Adult

Jimmy of Pompano Beach, Florida USA asks...

Has the ruled changed on the placement of a ball on a corner kick? I was of the opinion until tonight, that the ball went to the corner closet to the side of the goal it went out on. Right of goal, then the ball is placed on the right side of the goal. Does the striking team have the discresion to choose what ever side to initiate the corner>

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

In my opinion the only change I have heard discussed has to do with the ball can overlap the arc boundry rather than have to touch it or be completely inside the arc
Procedure
The ball is placed inside the corner arc at the NEAREST corner flagpost
ball goes middle of goal over crossbar referee points to one corner or the other and that is it
CHeers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Coach, you are correct, the corner nearest where the ball went out should be used. If the ball went out at an angle, crossing behind the goal, maybe it would be just as fast to use the corner opposite where it went out, the one that the ball is now closest to? Not technically correct in Law, but certainly it meets the Spirit.

We had one field where one corner was next to a low spot. When it rained, there often was 1-3 inches of standing water just off the field. I made up my mind that, in the opinion of this referee, the ball obviously had just gone out closer to the other corner, the one with good footing. Didn't everyone else see it that way?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Actually Law 17 allows latitude in this, it states: The ball is placed inside the corner arc at the nearest corner flagpost.

In the USA Advice to referees lays upon it this further amplification:

17.1 BALL PLACEMENT FOR A CORNER KICK

The corner kick restart is taken from the corner on the side of the field nearest to where the ball crossed the goal line. In cases where the selection of the correct corner may be doubtful, the referee
will decide and announce the correct corner clearly and firmly.

Now here comes the fun part for a referee having a pain in the arse player who collects the ball for his corner kick, 2m from the left post, that left the field just to the right center of goals. Strict interpretation of the Advice given allows...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The striking team does NOT get to choose. It's the closest corner and if that's not obvious the referee chooses.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Ball must be placed at nearest corner. Ball must be inside corner arc similar to the placement of a goal kick.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 17319