Question Number: 22987

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 3/23/2010

RE: Competitive Adult

Richard Collins of La Mirada, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20895

I must disagree with the answers stating that an own goal being scored on a kick off should not be allowed. Based on what? The Laws of the Game SPECIFICALLY state on which restarts an own goal is not allowed: Free Kick (DFK and IFK), Penalty Kick, Throw-in, Goal Kick,and Corner Kick. Other than a Drop Ball, what restart is missing? The Kick Off! Why? - that is the question that need to be addressed. NFHS rules are the same - Own Goals are NOT banned on the Kick Off. If the possibility of a ball traveling over 100 yards to score an own goal (on a Corner Kick) is covered, why is the possibility of it traveling 50 yards not? I know that USSF has publish a chart that deals with this (in it, Own Goals on a Kick Off are not allowed), so I assume that their ruling would be binding on matches sanctioned by the Federation. What about international matches?
By the way, I have seen balls from kickoffs end up in the defensive PENALTY AREA on windy days: in Rialto, CA (Celtic Cup) and Lancaster, CA (State Cup). The Celtic Cup Tournament had a Mexican Club as guests so we were playing under modified FIFA rules (NOT USSF) in their matches.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

See # 22985

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Well Richard you can disagree all you want but you are absolutely, positively 100% wrong. Based on what you ask? Based on tradition and general knowledge of soccer everywhere in the world for a very long period of time. Law 13 requires the ball be stationary when kicked. This is not stated in Laws 16 and 17. Does that mean the ball does NOT have to be stationary at Goal or Corner kicks? Of course not. Again, just because something isn't written doesn't mean it isn't true. If you were playing a match under non USSF rules this question would never come up as only we Americans have the need to see everything in writing. USSF covers this so even Americans can understand.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The general principle is a team cannot score directly against itself from a restart by that team. A kick-off is a restart by that team. A dropped ball is a restart conducted by the referee which is in play only upon touching the ground.

While you are correct that the Law does not specifically state that a team may not score against themselves on a kick-off, neither does it say they can. It is a widely known fact of play that should such a strange event occur, the restart will be a corner kick.

Do you allow a team to sub for a player who has been sent off? Where in the Laws did you discover the restriction which forbids the team from replacing said sent off player? Ah, it isn't there, but we all know that is what happens, correct?

Some things we take on faith, based on the history of the way the game is meant to be played. And sometimes, the IFAB just doesn't put every little detail into writing.

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

See Question: 23005

See Question: 23047