Question Number: 33506

Law 16 - The Goal Kick 7/8/2019

RE: Pro High School

John Nagel of Wilmette, IL USA asks...

I attended US v. Mexico Gold Cup final yesterday and was really surprised to see the CR completely ignore the required procedure for goal kicks. The team taking the kick would have a second player receive the ball from the keeper well inside the penalty area. Both teams did this time and time again. It was glaring (many yards short of leaving the penalty area). What are global practices on this rule? Does the AR have any responsibility here? Does the CR tell the ARs to ignore this rule in the pre-game conference?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
Law 16 has been amended from the 1st June 2019 to remove the need for the ball to leave the penalty area on a goal kick / free kick.
Competitions that started before 1st June do not have to change mid season until the next start of its next competition. So for example MLS is not required to make the change until the end of the current season.
There are some other significant changes which can be viewed here

http://static-3eb8.kxcdn.com/documents/786/111531_110319_IFAB_LoG_at_a_Glance.pdf

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi John,
The Women's World Cup / Gold Cup applied the 2019/20 Laws of the Game - one of the changes in the new edition is that the ball does not have to leave the PA to be in play for a GK or FK. Attackers have to remain outside until the ball is kicked.

Competitions that commenced before 1st June still use the old laws - so if you're in the middle of the season now, you can disregard all that information.

https://www.theifab.com/log-documents has the new laws.