Question Number: 26236

Law 13 - Free Kicks 4/25/2012

RE: Rec Adult

Eric Schweser of Sierra Vista, AZ USA asks...

My team was awarded an offsides call within our own 18-yard box. The subsequent kick was passed to a player 5 yards away but still inside the 18-yard box. The center ref made our player take it again stating that the ball must make it out of the 18-yard box before it is touched by another player. I've played soccer for 30 years and have never heard of such a rule. I've only heard of the 'must clear the 18-yard box' on goal kicks.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Eric
The referee was perfectly correct.
Law 13 states Page 39 LotG and I quote '' ....# the ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area''
Now going back over the years this has always been the case and it is not some new addition by IFAB.
According to the Laws of the Game 1937, the earliest Laws that I have, the ball had to leave the penalty area on a free kick. At that time it was Law 10 and it stated that any free kick taken inside the penalty area must conform with Law 7 the goal kick Law at that time.
The 1996 Law book before the great rewrite of 1997 stated Law XIII '' The ball shall be in play immediately it has travelled the distance of its own circumference and is beyond the penalty−area''
BTW you are not alone on this and I have been confronted by players claiming that I was wrong to ask for the retake. My words with these players are "" Do you want to bet $1000 that I'm wrong?"" No one has taken me up yet on the bet but I'm hoping.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee was correct. The requirement extends to all free kicks by the defense from inside their penalty area - - not just goal kicks. Yours is a common belief among players and coaches.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

We get this question a lot, and I often see it on other websites. The wording in Law 13 and Law 16 is almost identical. We can't figure out why so many people know the goal kick must exit the penalty area, but so few players, coaches, fans and even referees don't know this about free kicks.