Question Number: 19970

Law 18 - Common Sense 9/16/2008

RE: Rec, Select, Competive Adult

Richard Bennett of Redmond, WA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19928

Thank you for your quick response.
Part of what Ref Voshol said was, "Perhaps you missed this provision of Law 16: 'The ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area.' Well, no I did not miss this but may I add that the Infringement/Sanction section of Law 16 also states that, "If the ball is not kicked directly into play beyond the penalty area, the kick is retaken." We all agree that both of these provisions are clear but my confusion, as I have now discovered, is from the combination of Law 13, 16 and 17 provisions about free kicks. Law 13 and 16 state that from inside the penalty area, "The ball IS in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area." To me this meant that the ball was in play when it crossed the goal line, being a part of the penalty area. The ball was in play but having crossed the goal line the restart now would be a corner kick for the other team. I say this because Law 17 states that, "A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball, having last been touched by the defending team, passes over the whole of the goal line, etc." This made me dig deeper and I went back to what defines a ball in or out of play. Law 9 states, "The ball is out of play when it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line." Ref Dawson makes it quite clear, "Beyond the boundary BUT into play!" Although his words are not repeated exactly as he states anywhere in the LOTG, they make perfect sense. Law 9 is very clear and has no exceptions on Ball Out of Play. I realize now that I am wrong and guilty of reading only as far as to confirm the information conveyed to me by others, and not the complete text of the Laws Of The Game.
Thanks again for this wonderful forum.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I like the part where you say I make perfect sense can I quote that to my wife?? LOL! Thanks for the thanks we are glad to be of help!

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I get what you are saying but it is understood that for all kicks coming out of the penalty area, the goal line doesn't count until the ball has cleared the area