Question Number: 17909

Law 13 - Free Kicks 11/13/2007

RE: rec Under 15

mark of wellingborough, England asks...

If a team kicks the ball directly into its own goal from an Direct Free Kick taken from outside the team's penalty area. is it a goal?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

No. A team can't score against themselves directly on a restart. It will be a corner kick restart, here. Ball left the field over the goal line last touched by the defending team. Quoting Law 13: "if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team's own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team".

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Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

When looking at the description of a direct free kick in the 1936/7 version of Law XIII we find a goal may be scored direct but only against the offending side. In the 1997 Laws the description became much more complex:

The Direct Free Kick

if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents? goal, a
goal is awarded

if a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team?s own goal, a
corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.

Regards,

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No. A goal may be scored directly but only against the team that committed the foul. If kicked into own goal it's a corner kick for the opponents

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Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No. The restart is a corner kick. You cannot score directly on yourself on a free kick.

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