Question Number: 28838

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/11/2014

RE: Adult

Jaewan of Yardley, PA USA asks...

When a free kick is given inside the goal area of the defending team, is there an requirements that the ball has to travel beyond the penalty area before being played?
West Ham v. QPR last weekend had QPR GK Green kicks a free kick which ended up at the foot of West Ham S Sakho inside the penalty area. He scored easily, but was disallowed by the ref.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Jaewan,

Yes, the laws state that when a team has a free kick (direct or indirect) within their own penalty area it must leave the penalty area before it can be touched by either team (much like a goal kick).

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jaewan
On all kicked restarts inside the penalty area to the defending team the ball must leave the penalty area for the ball to be in play. If the ball is touched inside the penalty area the kick is retake.
Many think that this law only applies to goal kicks only. Not so as it applies to free kicks as well.
The referee was 100% correct to disallow the Sakho goal.

Answer provided by Referee James Sowa

Any restart by the defending team inside the penalty area must leave the penalty area for the ball to be in play. If the attacker touches the ball prior to it leaving the area, the kick must be retaken. The referee was correct in the above situation.