Question Number: 22382

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/28/2009

Steve of fall river, ma usa asks...

Does the ball have to leave the area on every free kick?
Example: Offside is called in the area and a player plays the ball to a teammate who is also in the area.
Or, my goal makes a save and he roles the ball to me and I am in the area.
Are these two plays legal?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Example 1 - this is a restart and falls under free kicks, Law 13:
-----------------
Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area
Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team:
? all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball
? all opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play
? the ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area
? a free kick awarded in the goal area may be taken from any point inside that area
----------------------
Note the 3rd bullet point. The free kick in your example has not been put into play and must be retaken.

Example 2 - this is not a restart. The ball was never out of play. So there is no restriction on where the teammate may receive the ball from the goalkeeper (except for offside considerations at the other end of the field).

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Referee Voshol has quoted the law.
Any restart inside the penalty area (free kick and goal kick) has to leave the penalty area to be in play. If it does not then the restart is retaken.
As regards the save that is not a restart but normal open play and the ball does not have to leave the penalty area.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

One of the myths of the game is that the requirements are limited to goal kick. Law 13, however, tells us that they are required for all free kicks for the defense from inside the penalty area.