Question Number: 19739

Law 13 - Free Kicks 8/13/2008

Chris of Vancouver, Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19722

Regarding your answers to the restart on a free kick in one's own penalty area kicked into one's own goal, I agree that a goal kick kicked into one's own goal is retaken.

However the LOTG, (from July 1, 2008, FIFA website state that . . ..

LAW 13 " FREE KICKS . . .
The Direct Free Kick
Ball Enters the Goal
? if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents goal, a
goal is awarded
? IF A DIRECT FREE KICK IS KICKED DIRECTLY INTO THE TEAMS OWN GOAL, A
CORNER KICK IS AWARDED TO THE OPPOSING TEAM

The Indirect Free Kick . . .
Ball Enters the Goal. . .
? IF AN INDIRECT FREE KICK IS KICKED DIRECTLY INTO THE TEAMS OWN GOAL,
A CORNER KICK IS AWARDED TO THE OPPOSING TEAM

End of Quote.

I understand the logic that you are using in your answer, but there is no caveat in this quote above from the LOTG as to whether the free kick is taken in the penalty area or not. There is no other clarification or limitation of these statements anywhere else in the LOTG. As I understand it, a free kick kicked into one's own goal whether taken in the penalty area or not is a corner kick to the opposing team.

I would appreciate any clarification and quotations so as to prove your view to assessors etc when I make your call.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Chris, you're being dense, and I'm unclear as to why. If you can read the first part of Law 13 which you quoted above, did you read no further?

Under Position of Free Kick, it clearly tells us any free kick taken from within a team's own penalty area MUST clear/go beyond/leave entirely the penalty area BEFORE it is in play.

There was no caveat because referees are expected to read the entire Law and apply it as directed.

You'll also note, I hope, that under infringements/sanctions it says, and I quote: If, when a free kick is taken by the defending team from inside its own penalty area, the ball is not kicked directly into play: *the kick is retaken.

It can get no plainer than that, my friend.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

As noted in a previous answer, if the ball is not put back into play, the restart must be retaken. It cannot change to a different restart.

The bits of the Laws about corner kicks are for the unlikely situation where the ball does clear the PA so it is in play, but then somehow spins, rebounds or is blown back into the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The laws are a variable set of conditions for example law 13 has part of law 8, 12, 14, 16 and 17 as a free kick be it kick off or goal kick or corner kick of a foul or technical breech are all a form of the two free kicks indirect or direct. It states parameters or protocol to be followed but highlights the divergence of outcome based on criteria.
Law 10 TELLS you how a goal is legitimately scored yet if the opposition does not infringe the laws by your logic we should award a goal? Law 13 states ? The ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area
LAW 16 states ? The ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area
This means he ball must be kicked into play, if it crosses the goal line BEFORE exiting the penalty area the ball is NEVER in play thus no restart has occurred! You are over complicate things by isolating meaning from reasoning and not adding the entire written portion of law 13 into the results

? if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team's own goal, a
corner kick is awarded to the opposing team is a Free Kick Outside the Penalty Area and highlights one cannot score directly against ones self. The PK as a DFK for attackers inside the area is law 14 and indirect or free kicks inside the penalty area as defending choices must clear the penalty area to be in play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Not much to add other than the obvious to simple remember that ANY kick coming out of the penalty area must clear the penalty area before the ball is in play

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Chris if you implement this opinion during a match and allow a corner kick that results in a winning goal being scored you will find the match protested and found invalid because you misapplied the Law. We have given you good information and you question us. This is your right. However I suggest you contact your National organisation and seek their opinion regarding this before implementing it in a match because it is absolutely incorrect.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

I'm not sure how you can refute what we're saying, but like Ref Fleisher says, check your area's director of instruction for the official interpertation in your country.

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

See Question: 19749

See Question: 19928