Question Number: 19033

Law 13 - Free Kicks 5/8/2008

RE: Comp Adult

Phil Wearmouth of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

Free kick inside the defender's penalty area. The keeper plays the ball & before it leaves the penalty area an attacker
intercepts the ball & scores. The ref gave a goal ... I thought all defending goalkicks and free kicks had to leave the area before being touched by any other player.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You are correct - it is specified very clearly in Law 13 (below). Most people know that it applies to goal kicks, but there are a lot of people that don't seem to know it applies to any outbound free kick. I shooed opponents out of the penalty area prior to a free kick a few weeks ago, and the coach called out, "Why? It's not a goal kick."

(from Law 13)
Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area
Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team:
* all opponents are at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball
* all opponents remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play
* the ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty-area
* a free kick awarded in the goal area is taken from any point inside that area

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee has ignored Law 13 Free Kicks. The ball is NOT in play until it leaves the penalty area. The referee SHOULD have blown the whistle as soon as the opponent touched the ball and since this was an adult league, given the player a stern verbal warning to not do that again and proceeded with the free kick being retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Spot on mate.
Any free kick (goal, indfk or dfk) originating outbound from the player's own penalty area completely must clear the 18 yard boundry lines to be in play. The interception is a retake and a warning not to play the ball until it leaves the area, a repeat could be cautionable .
Cheers