Question Number: 24029

Law 16 - Goal Kick 9/27/2010

RE: 8 Under 13

BIll Fahmy of Houston, Texas USA asks...

The goal keeper takes a goal kick quickly, the ball travels across the penalty area and rebounds off the refree. The keeper tries to stop the ball but it the ball goes ino the net. What is the proper restart?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bill
If the ball has left the penalty area it is in play and the restart is a corner kick as a team cannot score directly on itself from any restart. If it has not left the penalty area the goal kick is retaken.
If the ball hits the referee inside the penalty area and rebounds outside the penalty area play continues.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Did the keeper touch the ball before it went into the net? You say he tries to stop the ball. If he touches it we have a second touch as the ball was put into play. From the current LOTG:

Goal kick taken by the goalkeeper
If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper touches the ball again (except with
his hands) before it has touched another player:
? an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the
place where the infringement occurred (see Law 13 ? Position of free kick)
If, after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball before it
has touched another player:
? a direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement
occurred outside the goalkeeper's penalty area, to be taken from the place
where the infringement occurred (see Law 13 ? Position of free kick)
? an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if the infringement
occurred inside the goalkeeper's penalty area, to be taken from the place
where the infringement occurred (see Law 13 ? Position of free kick)

From your description I'm guessing the restart is an IDFK where the keeper touched the ball subject to Law 13 Position of free kick but need to know if the keeper did indeed touch the ball. If not, restart is a corner kick for the opponents.