Question Number: 20401

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/29/2008

RE: 6 College

Mervyn Venter of Rochester, MN USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19710

OK reading this I still do not see the answer I was looking for.

What happens if the ball leaves the penalty area from a goal kick, and then the wind blows it back into the goal. No other player touches it. Is this the same as kicking it directly into the goal from inside the 18?
Does it not matter that the ball actually left the penalty area?

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The difference is in the restart!

If the ball actually went into play once it left the penalty area THEN the wind blows it directly back it is a corner kick

If the ball never left the Penalty area it is a retake of the goal kick.

On ANY defending free kick coming out of their own penalty area be it a DFK ,INDFK, or goal kick the ball must travel COMPLETELY outside the penalty area to be in play. The opposition must still be outside the area as well and a minimum of ten yards away. If a ball is kicked directly into their goal be it wind assist or a flub it is ALWAYS A retake. If on purpose to waste time, a retake and caution show a yellow card to the kicker.

If the free kick was outside the penalty area be it a DFK or INDFK and the ball is kicked into your own goal it is a corner kick awarded to the opposition. The same if it was a throw in and you threw the ball directly into your own goal it is again a corner kick . The laws are clear you can not SCORE DIRECTLY upon yourself from any restart except a drop ball.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

It matters a great deal if the ball leaves the penalty area!!! In order for the ball to be in play, it must leave the penalty area. If the ball never leaves the penalty area, then the goal kick (or any free kick leaving the penalty area) must be retaken. If the ball crosses over the penalty area boundary line and the wind blows it back into the goal then, since you cannot score directly on yourself at any restart, the proper restart is a corner kick for the opponents.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

In the case you're describing the restart is a corner kick, because the ball was in play when it left the penalty area and then left play over by crossing the kicking player's own goalline... it's a corner because you can't score a goal against yourself directly from a goal kick.