Question Number: 25255

Law 17 - Corner Kick 7/26/2011

RE: Competitive Under 19

Ethan Bent of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada asks...

Hello esteemed panel of referee minds,

My question is regarding corner kicks and the number of players allowed to leave the field to take one.

In a game I was refereeing, the attacking team had two players leave the field to take a corner kick. One stood behind (outside) the goal line, and the other behind (outside) the side touch line. They both ran towards the ball looking like they would kick it, but one stopped short while the other crossed the ball in returning it to play.

I was taken off guard the first time it happened, but when they were to take another corner kick I informed them that only one player was permitted to leave the field at a time to take the kick. Was I right in doing so?

I wasn't able to find this situation explicitly covered in the FIFA LOTG. But I interpreted the laws as the referee allowing one player to leave the field to take the kick, and the other player leaving without permission.

Strange 'gadget/trick' play, but very inventive.

Thanks in advance for your input!

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The interpretation in the US is that only one player may be off the field at a corner kick. 'Tradition' was the primary reason. The answer created a bit of controversy, and other federations might disagree.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ethan
This does not arise very often and the Law is somewhat mute on the point. Going off the field of play to play the ball is considered to be part of a playing movement. As only one player can play the ball then tradition would dictate that only one player should be off the field of play at a restart
However IMO it would be trifling at worst and as a referee I would not intervene here.A good judge here will be the reaction of the opponents. I suspect that the opponents will be happy that another player has been taken out of play so they will none too bothered. Neither should the referee. Personally I don't think it is a very smart play what ever about the choice of an inswinger or an outswinger depending if the team use a left footer and a right footer kicker at the corner.
If the referee is to fully implement the Law for leaving the FOP without permission then it has to be a caution for one of them and that ain't going to happen IMO.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The Law only requires that a player from the attacking team kick the ball into play. It does not say, or imply, that only one potential kicker can be available in the area of the corner arc to take the kick. That area, by necessity, allows player(s) to stand off the field in preparation to take the kick. Players are allowed to engage in feinting, or deception, at restarts (there are some exceptions for PKs). This is in the normal course of play, and should not be cause for concern for the referee unless or until it becomes some kind of charade or distraction/delay of game type of thing.

There are more important things to focus on - like the holding, pushing and other shenanigans going on in the penalty area when the corner kick is to be taken.