Question Number: 29179

Law 13 - Free Kicks 2/14/2015

RE: Select Adult

Stuart Olley of Coquitlam , Bc Canada asks...

Referee calls offside on attacking player inside the goal area about 2 yards off goal line. Goalie places ball on 6 yard line as rules state a free kick inside the goal area can be taken anywhere inside the goal area. Referee made goalie take offside free kick from 2 yards out where infringement occurred and said goalies interpretation was wrong. Who is correct? Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

In this case, the goalkeeper was correct and the referee wrong. Unfortunate, but it does happen.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Law 11 indicates that the restart is the spot of the infringement, but then refers to the exceptions in Law 13. It is Law 13 that states that a free kick awarded to the DEFENDING team inside its goal area may be taken ANYWHERE inside the goal area.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Stuart,
the keeper was correct in law, the referee ? Well it is his match, his decision, and unfortunately his reputation that suffers sigh!

As a defending free kick the keeper can take it from ANYWHERE inside the 6 yard goal area! Unlike the attackers' INDFK which cannot occur OTHER than actually ON the 6 yard goal area line that runs parallel to the actual goal line stretching from corner flag to corner flag the width of the field

Plus as a matter of that unwritten common sense law you often hear about as #18 an INDFK for an offside infraction is granted considerable leeway as to the exact blade of grass restart! This is unlike a DFK awarded say, just outside the opposing PA! That restart is glued to an exacting blade of grass as the importance of foul location is connected to the very real scoring opportunity such a restart provides.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Stuart
Not sure why a referee would be getting involved about an IDFK in this position. Many offside IDFKs are rarely taken from the exact location.
Anyway inside the goal area all defending free kicks can be taken anywhere inside the goal area while attacking free kicks are taken from the six yard line directly opposite from where the offence took place.