Question Number: 7556

Law 16 - Goal Kick

RE: All

Sean of Long Island, NY USA asks...

On a goal kick, if a player (on either team) enters the penalty area and recieves the ball, what is the proper restart? As a referee, I have personally made a decision to reward IFK's for the opposing team at the point where the player touched the ball.. I have had no complaints, but I feel that nobody really knows what the proper restart is? I also have another question, what is the restart if a player, obviously accidentally) messes up the goal kick and the ball does not cleat the penalty area? ..Thanks!.- Sean

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Sean the ball is not in play until, on any free kick taken within the team's own penalty area, it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area. In your case the decision is goal kick, not indirect free kick. The source for this may be found in both Law 13 - Free Kicks and in Law 16 - The Goal Kick. ..Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Sean. You should know this. You CANNOT award an IFK to anyone for this. WHen is the ball in play on a goal kick? AFTER it has directly left the penalty area. If any player touches the ball before it leaves the PA, it's a retake as per Law 16. If a player does this more than once you may caution him for wasting time,persisntent infringement, or unsporting behavior, but the restart is still a retake of the kick. As to your second question, same thing. If the ball is touched by any player in any manner before it leaves the penalty area, the kick is retaken.

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

See Question: 13367