Question Number: 20313

Law 18 - Common Sense 10/20/2008

RE: Competitive Under 17

Doug Dressman of Goshen, KY United States asks...

The laws do not allow you to score directly on yourself from a restart. Throw-ins, direct kicks, or indirect kicks.

Why?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Seems rather unsporting to allow a team to score on themselves from a restart, doesn't it? If a team has been awarded a DFK or IDFK, that is usually because the other team infringed the Law - and now we want to extend the punishment inflicted by the other team by allowing the team with the kick to score onthemselves? Don't think so. It's enough that they lose possession of the ball and the next restart, don't you think?

If scoring on one's own team happens, it is almost always a fluke unless a team is deliberately trying to lose.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Probably because FIFA feels that would detract from the Spirit of the game for the reasons outlined by Ref Maloney

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I guess sometimes IFAB wants to protect players from making fools of themselves. It's a restart, no pressure, and the player puts it into his own net voluntarily? Enough humiliation and abuse from his teammates, without being down a goal as well.

Note: I doubt whether IFAB ever contemplated such things. More likely, 'That's the way it's always been, and there's no reason to change.'