Question Number: 21898

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 9/6/2009

RE: Competitive Adult

Ron Judd of Boston, MA United States asks...

Can a drop ball result in an own goal? Either in the PA or in the field of play, if not what is the restart?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

No. Although immediately afterward an own goal might happen.

At a dropped ball, the ball is in play when it touches the ground. If the ball rolls out of play before any player touches it, the dropped ball is repeated. Once a player touches it, there is no restriction on scoring a goal for either team.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

An own goal (meaning a player kicking the ball into his own goal) can be scored on a dropped ball. If the ball rolls into the goal but no player has touched it, the dropped ball is retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I am trying and failing to visulize how a drop ball could go directly off a player lining up to take a drop ball at say the edge of the 6 yard area into their own goal after first hitting the ground without the referee putting some kind of weird spin on the ball and throwing the ball down real fast?

I could see a deflection where once the ball is kicked it could rebound of the opposing player and could count as a score if it entered the goal?

Any drop ball that strikes the ground and wound up rolling out of play without a player's touch is a redrop!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Your question is answered in the current Laws Of The Game under the section The Start And Restart Of Play:

Infringements and Sanctions
The ball is dropped again:
? if it is touched by a player before it makes contact with the ground
? if the ball leaves the field of play after it makes contact with the ground,
without a player touching it