Question Number: 25002

Law 13 - Free Kicks 5/23/2011

RE: Rec Other

Ralph N. of Halifax, Nova scotia Canada asks...

I have a question regarding the Indirect free Kick. I know that the Laws of the Game clearly states that the ball has to be touched by another player in order to score a goal from an indirect free kick. If an attacking player kicks the ball directly towards the net while the keeper intuitely touches the ball trying to make a save, and the ball gets into the net, should this be counted as a goal? If so, who should get credits for the goal? The kicking player or theis it an own goal?

In order for a goal to be scored directly from an indirect free kick, I think a teammate should touch the ball first. Please help. Thanks in advance!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 13 says, 'A goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal.' Another player means exactly what it says - any other player, from either team. It does not have to be a teammate, and the opposing goalkeeper is a player.

Credit for the goal is a statistic that is not covered by the Laws of the Game. If the rules of the competition require that the referee record who scored goals, credit is usually given to the player on the attacking team who last touched the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The ball had to be touched twice before it can count as a goal. That's the entire requirement. Doesn't matter who touches it twice. If the keeper is the second person, it's still a goal. Would not be an own goal as the keeper attempted to stop it. If the defending team was taking an indirect free kick outside of their own penalty area and the ball was kicked to the keeper who touched it and let it go into the goal, it would be an own goal.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

This is a goal. The ball must be touched again by any player, and that includes an opponent. Few keepers make this mistake more than once. The next time, they let the ball go directly into the goal on an indirect free kick.