Question Number: 17947

Law 13 - Free Kicks 11/18/2007

RE: rec Under 11

Charlie Reilly of Hawthorne, NJ usa asks...

The attacking team was given an indirect free kick from about 25 yards from goal. The player taking the kick shot it on goal. The defending team's goalie attempted to stop the shot but it hit his hands and went into the goal. The Referee disallowed the goal. The explanation from one of the other parent's was that it did not touch a second attacking team player before going into goal. Should the referee disallow the goal?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The goal should have counted. An indirect kick must touch any player - from either team - before a goal can be scored. Since the goalkeeper is a player, the goal should have counted.

This is probably a newer referee who is still unclear on some of the concepts of the Laws. Please report him to the local ref authorities so he may get the additional instructions he needs to become a better ref. If you don't know who that is, your club administration should know.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Ah, another myth is born. Parental explanations are seldom based on intimate knowledge of the Laws of the Game. Thanks for asking to get the real scoop on this one. The referee was wrong, he took a valid goal! The reason is as Ref Voshol states. Corrective action needs to be taken for the referee, he needs to reread Law 13 and remember it this time. Corrective action also needs to be taken for the overly knowledgeable parent as well...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Ahhh. Gotta love it when referees and parents make up their own rules/ The ball must touch ANY OTHER PLAYER after first kicked on an indirect free kick. Last I check, the keeper qualified as any other player. This goal should have counted. What's more, it's such an obvious misapplication of the laws, it's grounds for protest. This referee needs an assessment asap.