Question Number: 30756

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 9/13/2016

RE: State Under 17

Mark of San Jose, CAlifornia USA asks...

For dropped ball, I understand it must at least two players for it to be a legal goal. If the ball is dropped and a player dribbles around the penalty area, hasn't touched a player, just the dribbling player,t hen leaves the penalty area and then shoots and scores, does it count as a goal?

What if a player passes it to his teammate and they play a 1 2 pass and score, is that legal?

What if the player takes a shot and hits a defender and goalkeeper and goes in, is that a goal?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
As the Law states that without touching at least two players a goal cannot be awarded. In your first scenario with the single player dribbling and then shooting no goal can be awarded.
On the other scenarios a goal would be allowed as it is then not deemed to be direct having touched a second player.
I personally though would have difficulty with the deflection / save scenario as would the teams. Examples on the web show goalkeepers trying to save in vain kicks to them that went astray. Most result in an uncontested goal which IFAB wants to eliminate. A referee could easily miss a touch deeming that the ball entered the goal directly in which case no goal can be awarded.
When it is clear that the player has deliberately abused a Fair Play restart I would be stepping in to deal with it as USB which is a caution and an IDFK restart.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Mark,
Doesn't matter what the first player does - has it touched a second player?
So in the first, no goal. The second two are legitimate goals as the defender or the teammate are both other players.