Question Number: 34786

Other 12/1/2022

RE: World Cup

Barry Stewart of Chilliwack , BC Canada asks...

To its credit, FIFA has made moves to make its language consistent throughout the book of laws, a recent example being how a goal kick is in play as soon as it is kicked… not when it clears the area, as in the past.

In this vein, let’s look at Sam Adekugbe’s goal in Canada’s 2-1 loss to Morocco.

“What? That was an own goal, wasn’t it?”

I say no. Using the advice on offside calls: if a Canadian had been in an offside position and received the glancing deflections off the Moroccan defender and keeper, he surely would have been blown down as offside.

If the Moroccans had no deliberate control on their deflections, then surely Adekugbe should get credit for his shot/pass. Yes?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Barry,
The criteria for how goals are awarded has ZERO to do with the referee . It sucks to be the owner of an own goal but basically the designation implies without your interference there would be no goal thus you caused it? This is different if say you block a shot that WAS on goal and would have scored and you had it deflect off of you .
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry
Who is credited with a goal is only of concern to the scorer, any award for goals scored, fantasy football and betting.

An own goal is awarded when the actions of a defender / goalkeeper causes the ball to be directed into the goal when it is destined elsewhere such as wide or away from goal.

In the Morocco goal it was a cross that if it was not touched would have gone across goal rather than into it hence the own goal.