Question Number: 25655

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/24/2011

RE: Adult

charles of garden grove, calif usa asks...

If goalie commites indirect foul in 3 yrds from right goal post,where do you spot the ball.It is not enough to have 10 yards wall.
Can you be very specific about the term (parallel) where to spot the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The restart is moved back (at a 90 degree angle to the goal line) to the top of the goal area (aka the '6 yard line').

A IFK restart for a foul by the keeper that occurred inside the goal area, directly in front of the right goal post would be moved back to the right corner of the goal area.

The defenders must retire 10 yards from the ball OR be on the goal line, between the goal posts.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The ball is placed at the nearest point on the 6-yard line, the top of the goal area. 'Parallel/perpendicular' is sometimes confusing - what is meant is that if you draw a line from the spot of the infringement to the spot of the kick, it forms a line segment perpendicular to the goal area line.

You are correct, that placement doesn't give enough room for the defenders to retreat 10 yards. Law 13 says for free kicks inside the penalty area, 'Indirect free kick to the attacking team: all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball until it is in play, unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts.' If they are on the line between the goalposts, they are allowed to be less than 10 yards away.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Charles
The ball is placed on the 6 yard line directly opposite the location of the offence. The defending team must be 10 yards away to the side and rear but need only to retreat to the goal line in front of the ball.

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