Question Number: 25837

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 12/16/2011

RE: Adult

lance of adelaide, south australia australia asks...

hi ref could you please explain to me the own goal rule? I know it comes off a defender into the goal but is that true for all situations or only certain ones?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Lance
This is really only important in statistics, betting, golden boot awards and fantasy football. An own goal would only be awarded where the defending player has clearly caused the goal such as a clear kick into the goal, deflecting a ball that was going wide into the goal etc.
Where the ball is destined for the goal and the defender / goalkeeper deflects the ball then that would not be an own goal but it wold be awarded to the forward who shot or headed the ball.
Many professional leagues use a panel of experts to determine who in fact scored a goal that is doubtful.

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Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Own goals are like assists - they are statistics made up for use outside the game.

The only goal count the referee is concerned with is how many are counted for each side, so the winner of the game can be determined (or so we know the score is tied).

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

an own goal is when a player plays the ball into his own goal scoring a goal for the other team. It is merely a statistic

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