Question Number: 26425

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 6/5/2012

RE: low level High School

ronald dodds of Battle Mountain, Nevada USA asks...

I notice that there are uncontested drop balls in the pros. Are they considered indirect free kicks? I notice they are kicked back to the opposition in sportsmanship. In contested situations I understand that this is the only situation in which a restart may be touched by the player twice .

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ronald
The origin of the uncontested dropped ball can be traced to the pro game namely the 90s World Cups where teams to allow treatment to an injured player kicked the ball out of play. The ball was then given back to the team in possession. This was then extended to the dropped ball where when the referee stopped play to deal with an injury the ball was given back to the team in possession or the opponents of the injured player.
What happens at a dropped ball is of no concern to the referee as once the ball touches the ground it is in play and players can play the ball as they wish.
From the 1st July it will not now be possible to score directly from an uncontestedj dropped ball and a goal kick will be awarded should the ball enter the goal directly from an opponents kick.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Great question. This month, the answer is no. A goal can be scored directly by either team after a dropped ball. But, FIFA/IFAB had just changed the laws. For leagues and tournaments starting after July 1, a goal cannot be scored after a dropped ball until the ball touches a second player.