Question Number: 21568

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 6/20/2009

RE: Amateur Adult

Rohan of Brisbane, Qld Australia asks...

If the ball is kicked into the corner post by a defending player, should the call by the ref be:
1. A throw-in by the attacking team
2. A corner to the attacking team, or
3. 'Play on' if the ball stays in the field of play?

Is the ruling different if the ball travels beyond the sideline or past the defensive touchline?

In todays game, a defending player kicked the ball into the corner post and the ball then travelled beyond the densive touchline. The ref ruled a corner kick, we argued (within reason) that it should be ruled an attacking throw-in.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

None of the above. The ball has not left the field (*), so #1 and #2 are out. And 'play on' is reserved for when the referee sees a foul and is invoking advantage, so that one is out as well. Unless you meant #3 to read, 'Play continues' - which is the correct answer.

(*) - It could be that a ball contacts the flag pole near the top, bending it outwards, and then the ball is catapaulted back onto the field. If in that case it can be seen that the ball completely crossed outside the lines of the field, it has gone out. The referee would decide whether the goal line or touch line was crossed by the ball, just as he decides which line is crossed when a ball flys over the top of the flag. So if the ref decided the ball crossed the goal line, a corner kick would be appropriate; that your team feels a throw-in would be more appropriate is immaterial.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

If the ball leaves the field after hitting the corner flag, the restart is based on whether it crossed the touchline or the goal line.

If a ball sailed directly over the top of the flag such that it left equally at the corner, the old school approach is to award a throw-in (the restart that is least dangerous to the defense) and the newer school approach is a corner kick (the restart that enhances exciting soccer). I'm old school. YMMV.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the ball hits the corner flag and then goes completely over the touchline a throw-in should be awarded If the ball goes completely over the goal line, depending which team last touched the ball, a corner kick or goal kick would be awarded. If the ball rebounds onto the field of play, continue play. If the ball in the referees opinion went OVER the corner flag I would award a throw-in.