Question Number: 18922

Law 13 - Free Kicks 4/29/2008

RE: Under 12

matt of liverpool, merseyside uk asks...

If from a free kick the player plays the ball into his own net what is the restart,is the same restart applicable if the free kick is indirect and the keeper touches the ball before it enters the goal

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The restart is a corner kick when no other player touches the ball. If the free kick is indirect, taken from outside the team's own penalty area, kicked toward his own goal, is touched by that teams keeper and goes into the goal, then the goal would count and the restart would be a kick-off.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the free kick was located in the player's own penalty area and never left the penalty area before going directly into the goal, it would be a retake of the free kick.

If it was from outside the PA and it went in directly, it would be a corner kick for the opponents. If the goalkeeper deflects it first, it's no longer direct and the goal would count.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

No one can score on themselves directly and ANY free kick out from inside a player's own penalty area must clear the boundry lines to be in play so in these cases it will be a retake although this had better be a one time event as needlessly delaying a restart carries cautionable issues.

If the ball is outside the penalty area and on a free kick (DFK or INDFK ) or a throw-in the ball goes directly into the player's own goal it will be a corner kick for the opposition. Unfortunately if a keeper does try to stop any of the three restarts from directly entering his goal and fails after having made contact with the ball the restart is a kick off as the goal will count since the ball has NOT directly entered the goal!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The restart is the same as if the player kicked it over his goal, a corner kick. It is well accepted that you cannot score upon yourself at any restart. If the keeper touches the ball before it goes into the goal it's a goal regardless if it's an indirect or direct free kick.