Question Number: 15123

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 4/4/2007

RE: YMCA Under 11

Bill of Pensacola, Florida USA asks...

Tonight in a game, the opposing goalie stopped a shot, picked up the ball to punt it, punted it and it went over her head and into her own goal. A parent from the other team said the ball had to move forward before a team could score on themselves. What would FIFA say?

One more question: Our first game against this team, we threw in a ball that rolled into their goal. They counted it as a goal. It is unclear whether anyone on the defending team touched it...we never did. What would FIFA say?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Bill,
FIfa would be as incredulous as we are that someone could speak in such a way as to prove they actually know absolutely nothing about football!

The ball was in ACTIVE play, it was a mistake, the keeper likely feels rather foolish and it stays a goal!

ONLY on a RESTART is it impossible for a team to score DIRECTLY against itself.

Law 15 ? The Throw-in

A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.

The following logic in law 13 would then apply to a ball crossing a goal line without touching anyone from either team.
Who last touched the ball ?
Throw-indirect into own goal = corner kick
Throw-indirect into opponent's goal = goal kick


Law 13 Free Kicks
The Direct Free Kick
If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents? goal, a goal is awarded.
If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team?s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team

The Indirect Free Kick
if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents? goal, a goal kick is awarded.
if an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team?s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.

Exceptions are any free kicks in favour of the defending team in their own penalty area must leave the PA boundrylines to be in play or it is a retake.

LAW 13 Free kick
If, when a free kick is taken by the defending team from inside its own penalty area, the ball is not kicked directly into play:
the kick is retaken.

Law 16 Goal Kick
The ball is in play when it is kicked directly beyond the penalty area.
If the ball is not kicked directly into play beyond the penalty area:
the kick is retaken.

In your second senario the only LEGAL way for a goal to be awarded was if any of the 21 players on the field (not the thrower) physically touched the ball before itcompletely crossed the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Well on average, I guess they got it right. One goal should have been scored in the two scenarios you mention, and it appears that's what they said to do. Too bad both decisions should have gone the other way.

A keeper punt (or drop kick or throw, or any other way she wants to distribute the ball) is no different than any other dynamic play. It wasn't a restart. There are no restrictions on direction or scoring. She kicks the ball backward, oops, too bad, you just gave up an own goal.

On a throw-in, another player (from either team) must touch the ball before a goal can be scored by either team.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

In the first situation, count the goal. You can easily tell the parent doesn't know what they were talking about - how can you score in your own goal by moving the ball forward? That makes no sense - if it were scored directly from an free kick, that is a different story but it wasn't.

You cannot award a goal scored directly from a throw-in.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

One wonders if you had volunteer parents refereeing the match. First is a goal, second is a goal kick. This is what the International FA Board say in their Laws of the Game and those Laws are approved by FIFA, the governing body of Football. I guess you should have asked "What does FIFA say?"

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the goalie punts in back into their own goal, then it is a GOAL. The ball does not need to move forward on a keeper punt. On a throw in, a goal cannot be scored directly. If the ball is thrown into opponents goal, like you describe...the restart is a goal kick.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Parents know next to nothing about the Laws of soccer. This one proved it very quickly. The keeper punting the ball is not a RESTART. She kicks it into her own goal and it's a goal for the other team. One can NEVER score directly against one's own team at ANY restart. The ball can be kicked forwards and rebound off the referee or get caught up by the wind and roll into one's own net and still it's no goal. A throw-in MUST touch any other player before a goal may be awarded. FIFA would probably say "American parents. Typical"

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