Question Number: 30978

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/30/2016

RE: recreational Under 11

jack of Glendale, NY United States asks...

A player takes an indirect free kick in the penalty area. The player kicks it directly towards the goal, the ball deflects off a defender, who was part of the wall, and enters the goal. Is this a goal or is it not. Please explain why it is or why it is not.
thanks
Jack

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jack
An indirect free kick requires that the ball must touch / be played by another player for a goal to be scored. It makes no difference if that touch is off a team mate or an opponent as the Law does not specify that. Once it touches an opponent, as in this case a defender in the defensive wall, the goal can be awarded if the ball enters the goal with no infringements by the kicking team. So the goal is good.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Jack ,
If this was an INDFK for the attack as an opportunity to score then that as which you described is a good goal! An INDFK requires a physical legal touch by a team mate or any physical touch by an opponent to count as a two touch restart. The kicker (kicks 1st touch), opponent has ball( deflect 2nd touch) ball completely crosses goal line under crossbar between posts results in a goal unless the referee witnessed some other illegal action on the kicking team's part prior to the ball entering the goal.