Question Number: 35114

Law 17 - The Corner Kick 9/24/2023

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

Hello,

one more old thing, please. I was unable to send an inquiry through your site. It did not work :-)

Scenario: A player steps on the ball before a corner kick (or free kick or kick-off) and moves it to a teammate with the sole of his foot.

Most say that this is not allowed (including IFAB). It is not allowed to stand on the ball before the restart.

So what is the correct procedure? How do you solve it? Most say the kick should be repeated.

Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Petr
The ball has to be kicked and moved so for me using the sole of the boot to kick the ball is perfectly okay.
Standing on the ball or tapping the ball on top is not a legal restart as the ball has not clearly moved. If it clearly moves and seen to move by all then the ball is in play.
As I say to referees it is important to not sweat the small stuff. If everyone on the field is of the view that the ball was “kicked” in what ever manner and it clearly moves with play continuing then why get involved. Simply play on.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Petr,
Rolling the ball about using the sole of the foot to place the ball or simple tap ie,, step on then lift off is NOT something a referee should consider as an actual kick putting the ball in play.

It is NOT against any LOTG to place your foot on the STATIONARY ball INSIDE the corner ARC and roll or push it away where the ball is easily distinguishable as separated from the foot and has actually discernably moved from here to there. What is confusing is when the fiddle fart about, rolling the ball into the arc and continue moving it about so it stays within the arc , then claiming it was kicked as they pull away, should you have them redo . Yet by the same token if an astute defender was to rush in they whine about no yards.

If the corner kick is a NON whistled restart, in todays game I generally whistle as do the pros, given they are constantly mucking about in the PA area. The ball must be PLACED inside or on the corner ARC -then- that ball movement motion using the sole may well be putting the ball into play and the corner has in fact occurred. Thus play on!
Cheers