Question Number: 18635

Law 13 - Free Kicks 3/29/2008

Dave Berry of pittsburgh, us asks...

Soccer Panel,

My son plays indoor competetive soccer, and his team was awarded an indirect free kick.
the kick was taken and it deflected off of the opposing player and into the net.

The referee awarded a goal kick and I was kind of furious of because why.

After the game my son told me an indirect free kick has to be touched by a player before it goes in.

I am not all that knowledgable about the rules, but shouldn't that be a goal if it is touched by another player? Could have the referee misinterpreted the rule for being own player instead of any player?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Hi Dave. No, you understand correctly. On an indirect free kick a goal may not be scored directly, the ball must touch ANY OTHER PLAYER before going into the net in order to be a valid goal. Perhaps the referee didn't see the ball touch another player on the way to the net.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Dave ,
What a referee thinks in his matches he is the only one who can tell you that.
Is it possible a referee is as wrong as you think he might be? Barely possible but who knows. You are correct as is your son, at the taking of the INDFK once the kicker kicks the ball ANY ball contact between it and ANY other player (opponent or team member) will satisfy the two touch requirement for a goal to be legally scored. WE might assume the referee did not see the ball deflecting off a player and only thought it rebounded off the post and in thus not satisfying the infk restart parameters for a goal to be awarded. So did the referee restart with a goal kick??
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Before making any credible guess as to what went on in this referee's mind, we would have to know the level of certification required to be a referee at your indoor facility. Many indoor arenas are private enterprises, set up so that teams may play and the owners may make a profit. They are not affiliated in any way with any governing bodies that you are used to in outdoor league games. They may choose any referee they desire to hire. Since expenses in running an indoor venue are often higher than outdoor, some of those who run the facility may choose to cut costs on the referees. You get what you pay for.