Question Number: 26522

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 7/2/2012

RE: Adult

Himanshu Chouhan of indore, m.p. INDIA asks...

in soccer iS goal is awarded from free kick if kick haS taken before center line

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Himanshu
A goal can be scored in the opponents' goal from any kicked restart with the one exception of an indirect free kick.
So if a direct free kick is awarded, no matter where the free kick is taken from which can be the team's own half, a goal will be awarded if it enters the opponents goal.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Direct: a goal may be scored directly from any free kick.

Indirect: an own goal may not be scored directly from a free kick, and no goal may be scored directly on an indirect free kick. The ball is in play as soon as it is kicked and moves, but a goal cannot be scored until the ball touches a second player. A dropped ball is now treated similarly - -a goal cannot be scored until the the ball touches a second player.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

A goal may be scored against an opponent from a direct free kick taken from anywhere on the field. Inside the opponent's penalty area, that would be a PK.

An indirect free kick can score against an opponent only after it has touched another player (either team) besides the kicker, and that kick can also be taken from anywhere on the field except within the goal area of the opponent.