Question Number: 24845

Law 13 - Free Kicks 4/21/2011

RE: competive Adult

scanveit of gaborne, botswana botswana asks...

free kicks(indirect kick)

i know that the IK is shown by raising the hand above the head,the ball had to be touched by two players before it can get in the net.So i want to know what are those players,eg an opponet can kick the ball straight to the post without his team mate touching the ball and the goalkeeper trys to save the and touch it and gets in to the net is it a goal.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The ball is in play as soon as it is kicked, and it may score as soon as it touches a player (any player) other than the kicker. So in your example, the goal would count.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The must touch a player (from either team). The smart keeper lets the ball enter the net untouched (for a goal kick).

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
A goal cannot be scored directly from an IDFK. However the ball is in play when the ball is kicked and moves. If the ball enters the goal directlyfrom the IDFK a goal kick is awarded. From the IDFK if the ball touches another player from either side and enters the goal then a goal is awarded.
The keeper does not need to save the ball unless he believes that the ball has touched another player.
An incident that stuck in my memory was many years ago in a cup final, when IDFKs where more common, I crossed the ball into the goal area from an IDFK. It was not what I intended as the cross was much too close to the goalkeeper and close to the crossbar. However he tried unsuccessfully to push the ball over the crossbar and the ball went into the goal. The GK complained that he did in fact not touch the ball however referee awarded a goal as he believed that he did touch it.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The first player kicks and moves the ball; that puts the ball in play. Now the ball must touch ANY other player before a goal may be scored. That includes the opposing keeper