Question Number: 25802

Law 17 - Corner Kick 12/2/2011

RE: junior Adult

alistair suttie of belfast, northern ireland asks...

player is awarded a corner and the arc is to mucky for the ball to be placed can it be swapped to the other side for the kick?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

No, a corner kick must be taken from the corner nearest to the point where the ball left the field. If one section of the field is too mucky to place the ball, perhaps the game should have been abandoned for an inadequate or unsafe field. Else, play the ball in the mud. The situation affects both teams equally because a corner kick in the other half of the game would also have to be taken in the sloppy area.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Alistair
The corner kick has to be taken from the side where the ball left the field of play. It is the same for both teams and the player simply has to make the best of the conditions. Mucky is not in itself dangerous and the ball can be kicked into play even a short distance with little difficulty
If the conditions are so bad that it is effecting the normal playing of the game the referee has to consider abandoning the game.