Question Number: 26826

Law 16 - Goal Kick 9/24/2012

RE: High School

JW of Miami, FL United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 26815

If a goal kick is taken backwards towards the players own goal and goes in the goal, it is not a goal. Is it a corner kick or a retake of the goal kick since the ball never entered the field of play? Does it matter if the ball goes out over the goal line while still in the penalty area, but not into the goal?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Either way it's going to be a retake - as you said, the ball has not gone into play at all.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The only time a backward goal kick could go into play is if it went backwards diagonally, exiting the side of the PA and leaving the field between the PA and the corner flag. Then the ball has gone into play for a short time, and the restart would be a corner kick.

If it crosses the portion of the goal line that is in the penalty area, it is a retake of the goal kick.

Goal kicks with weird backspin, in very strong winds or bouncing off the referee could exit the penalty area and then go back across the goal line. But because a goal cannot be scored directly against ones own team, it would be a corner kick.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi JW
As the ball has not entered play by exiting the penalty area the only possible restart is a retake.
The only question I would ask would be why the kick was taken in this manner?
If it was a genuine mistake then it is a retake. However if it was done for time wasting reasons the referee may have to take disciplinary action. The restart though does not change.