Question Number: 31289

Law 13 - Free Kicks 2/23/2017

RE: Competive Adult

Bill Shaw of Pinckney, Mi USA asks...

I have a question on a pass back to the goalie by the defending team. If the goalie is standing on the six yard line, is the ball place at this spot because it's where the goalie committed the foul?
This means the goalie and most likely his teammates are going to stand on the goal line inside the goalie net. Am I correct in the restart in this situation.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bill
You are correct. If the offence happens inside the goal area or on the line the IDFK is taken from the six yard line. Defenders plus the goalkeeper must then be on the goal line inside the goal posts or 10 yards from the ball if outside the posts.
In other instances the IDFK is taken from the location of the offence. So if it was 8 yards from the goal line that is where the IDFK is taken from with the same law applying to the location of defender, either 10 yards from the ball or on the goal line between the posts

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Bill,
It kind of depends how you look at it. The law says that the indirect free kick is taken where the offence occurred unless committed by the defending team inside its own goal area when it is taken on the goal area line. Since the line is part of the area it encloses, the restart can be seen as being either where the offence occurred or on the 6-yard line because the offence occurred inside it. The end result is the same.

With the kick being taken on the 6-yard line, you are right in saying that the defenders are allowed to be on the goal line between the goal posts.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Bill,
you are spot on mate!
NO INDFK can occur CLOSER than 6 yards from the goal line for an INDFK awarded INSIDE the goal area or on the goal area boundary line per the special circumstance that are attributed to this 6 yard area. On ANY INDFK from closer than ten yards from the goal, the defenders (includes the keeper) must be standing ON the goal line itself under the crossbar and between the posts!
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 31296