Question Number: 32001

Law 16 - The Goal Kick 11/6/2017

RE: Under 15

Edward Clancy of Elmsford, ny USA asks...

At a recent game, the goalkeeper took a goal kick but the ball did not leave the box but it did cross the goal line. The referee restarted with a retake of the goal kick, was this correct, I thought we should have been awarded a corner kick.
Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Edward
As the ball did not cross out over the penalty area line the ball was not in play so the restart is a retake of the goal kick.
For a corner kick to be awarded the ball would have to cross the goal line between the corner flag post and where the penalty area line meets the goal line. Between the penalty area line and the goal it is a retake.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Edward ,
Yes the retake was correct! For you to be awarded the corner kick the ball would have to completely leave the confines of the PA and then cross the goal line section between the PA interdiction and corner flag. If it traveled directly over the touchline you would be awarded a throw in . I will assume it was a poor diagonal ball kicked out to the outer edge of the PA that went astray . If it was done repetitiously as a time wasting tactic as a deliberate delay of the restart it could be cautionable misconduct.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Edward,
This is an unusual situation and well done to the referee for getting this one right.

In most cases you'd be correct. If, for instance, a defender took a free kick outside the penalty area, passed it back to the keeper who missed it and it crossed the goal line, then that's a corner kick.

When it's a goal kick (or defensive free kick inside the penalty area) it's different - the ball has crossed the goal line without entering play. The fact that it never entered play is what makes it just a repeat of the same restart.

This is different to a corner kick that goes straight out because that corner kick is in play the moment it is touched.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Edward,
From your description it appears the ball crossed the goal line before leaving the penalty area. If so, then a retake is the correct decision since the ball never came into play.