Question Number: 22110

Law 13 - Free Kicks 9/29/2009

RE: Competive (High School) Under 16

Zak Hallett of Milton, Wisconsin United States asks...

I am a goalie, and in our last game the referee called a free kick and raised his hand straight up singaling an Indirect Free Kick. I don't know the full reason of why it was called because I honestly didn't see anything worthy of an Indirect Free Kick happen. But when the kick was taken (from roughly 10 yards outside of the big 18yard box) it went straight into the goal without any player including myself touching it, and the referee counted it as a goal against us. This goal put the other team in the lead and caused them to beat us. I told the referee that he had indicated an indirect free kick and that the goal was scored directly which was unfair because I was not expecting a shot and therefor was not able to save it from going in. The referee simply told me to not challenge a referee and wouldn't tell me why the call was made, and refused to not count the goal. Now that I have explained what happen, here is my question, Is there any time that a goal can be scored off of an INDIRECT Free Kick when it has not touched anybody (including the goalie)?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

An indirect free kick MUST touch another player before entering the goal for a goal to be counted (including the keeper). In your case, a goal kick should've been awarded.

It's possible that the referee thought it touched somebody on the way into the goal though.

It's a shame the referee wouldn't offer a reason for his decision, but some referees do get taught not to discuss anything at all. For me, it depends how I'm approached. If I'm being yelled at or the player is approaching me in an aggressive manner I probably won't speak to him. If I'm asked a question respectfully then I'll try to answer.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

By definition, at the taking of an indirect free kick, a goal may not be scored until the ball touches a second player.
Shame on the referee if you politely asked for an interpretation and he refused.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Please have your school AD report this incident. If it was in a match under FIFA Laws of the Game, it would be considered misapplication of the Laws and the game should be replayed. I'm not sure if that option is available in HS games, but at least the assignor should be made aware of the referee's mistake.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Zak
I would come at this from a slightly different angle. The award of a indirect free kick in a goal scoring position does not happen very often and probably more than likely for dangerous play without contact. I really can't remember the last IDFK I awarded in such a position so my advice to goalkeepers is assume every free kick is direct and to seek clarification from the ref if its indirect other than to rely solely on the signal. A pleasant call to the ref "Indirect Ref??" will elicit a reply. I would call out loudly 'Indirect' as well as raising my hand for the IDFK signal in a goal scoring position. It is also helpful to the attacking team to know it is indirect.
Refs should do their upmost to prevent issue arising but despite our best efforts incidents such as this happen for whatever reason. Last season I awarded a direct free kick for a contact foul in a scoring situation and I was asked by the defence whether it required the whistle for the free kick to be taken. I agreed that it would and I showed the whistle to the wall as they retreated. I had no reason to believe anything was wrong and then just as the FK was about to be taken the keeper called 'Indirect' and then made no effort to save the ball. He then suggested to me that I raised my hand to indicate an IDFK, which I assume was the showing of the whistle. I awarded the goal and I explained the situation to him.
He asked me again about it at the end of the game and I asked him when was the last indirect free kick that he had to deal with and he struggled for an answer.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The defense has no rights on a free kick other than not to be misled by the referee. In this case, the referee made two mistakes: first by signaling for an indirect free kick and second, by refusing to acknowledge his mistake and ordering the kick retaken. I'm sorry it cost your team a goal.

Last year in an MLS match, a referee intended to indicate 'wait for the whistle' but then raised the hand holding the whistle above his head. Players thought this was an IFK indication. A goal was scored and the team complained. USSF responded with a new directive for referees to raise the whistle to no higher than face height when indicating 'wait for the whistle.' While not binding on high school, I bet your referee didn't get the memo.