Question Number: 29473

Law 16 - Goal Kick 6/9/2015

RE: Rec Adult

Dan of Toronto, Ontario Canada asks...

After a goal kick, is the opponent allowed in the penalty box to intercept the ball before it leaves the area ?

Thanks,

Dan

Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Dan,
NO!
on ...ANY defending free kick... not just a goal kick, that originates from anywhere INSIDE the defending PA (penalty area) the ball is NOT IN PLAY until it has completely exited the PA. While no one from either team can touch/play the ball until it exits the PA only the opposition must be at least 10 yds from the ball, and no opponent is permitted within the PA until ...AFTER...the ball has fully exited the PA.

Although advantage could be applied on the too early cut through by an opponent to be overlooked as trifling, any actual touch of the ball inside the PA would not be allowed. If the defenders were to take a quick kick and it was intercepted inside the PA by an opponent or a forgetful team mate caught close by, the kick would simply be retaken
Cheers










.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dan
No that is not possible. All opponents must exit the penalty area and the ball must not be touched by either side until it has left the penalty area on any kicked restart. Opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play
If a player takes a short cut across the penalty area it is at the referees discretion as to allow that or not. If he feels that it has disadvantaged the kicking team then the kick is retaken. If it has not then he can deem it trifling and allow play to continue.
The same would apply to a quick restart. If there are opponents still in the penalty area the referee can allow play to proceed provided the ball is not touched for a 2nd time inside the penalty area.