Question Number: 6207

Law 17 - Corner Kick

RE: Rec Under 11

Victor of Roaming Shores, Oh USA asks...

During a game last weekend a corner kick was awarded. The team taking the kick kicked the ball directly into the side netting..The referee determined with some feedback from the coach that the ball was never "in-bounds" and awarded a re-kick. On the rekick a goal was scored. ..The coaches and ref then got together and deceided that maybe an error was made and did not count the goal. Fortunately it did not impact the final result of the game. ..I believe the re-kick should not have been awarded, Am I correct?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

If a corner kick is correctly placed before it's taken it's on the field of play. From the moment it's kicked and moved it's in play. The ball is out of play, according to Law 9 - The Ball In and Out of Play, when it has wholly crossed the goal line or touch line whether on the ground or in the air or play is stopped by the referee...Obviously neither the referee nor the coach was sufficiently armed to enter this discussion...You are correct...Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

the proper restart for what you describe is a goal kick as the corner kick was obviously kicked over the goal line by the attacking team. The statement that the ball was never "in-bounds" is curious but also meaningless. Of course it was in-bounds. A corner kick by definition starts from in-bounds as opposed to a throw-in. 2 things bother me, If the referee was certified 1)what is a certified referee doing getting feedback from a coach, 2) the referee did not have an understanding of the Laws. I'm happy the illegal goal did not influence the outcome of the game

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 14205