Question Number: 26701

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 8/29/2012

RE: Under 14

Filippo of Palermo, Italy asks...

During their 126th meeting, the IFAB approved some modifications to the Laws of the Game, one of them being:

'Dropped ball:
- If a dropped ball is kicked directly into the opponents' goal, a goal kick is awarded;
- If a dropped ball is kicked directly into the teams' own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.'

Now... how could we define the meaning of 'directly'? When we deal with restarts performed by players (e.g. an indirect free kick) we can say 'directly', and that means that the player only kicks the ball once and it goes into the goal without anyone else touching it. After all, if he touched the ball a second time he would be committing an infringement and an indirect free kick would be awarded to the opposing team. So we can say 'directly' when we say that if the ball is kicked directly into the opponents' goal while taking an indirect free kick, a goal kick must be awarded.

But what about dropped ball? Dropped ball is performed by the referee and once the ball reaches the ground it can be touched by the same player as many times as he wishes. So... what does 'directly' mean? Kicking it into the goal with only one touch? But then this rule is so useless, since a player could touch the ball with his left foot and then kick it into the goal with his right foot: he touched it twice, it is not kicked 'directly' into the goal and he avoided the rule easily. Everybody can do it like this so this rule is meaningless since, unlike indirect free kick, you have an easy way to trick it to score a goal.

So let's assume that even in this case the ball is still considered as if it were kicked 'directly' into the goal, and thus the goal is disallowed. Then when is it NOT kicked 'directly'? When the ball touches another player who is not the one who touched it after it landed? But that player could even touch it, play with it, and after come seconds kick it into the goal. Nobody could say anymore the ball was kicked 'directly' into the goal, but still no other players touched it. So does the time make the difference? But time is not mentioned anywhere in the Laws.

So... I think this rule is confusing. And if not confusing, it is meaningless. What do you think? What is the correct interpretation? What does that word mean when it is referred to a dropped ball?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Filippo
Thank you for your interesting question which has been focusing the minds of referees since its introduction.
The best way I can answer your question to perhaps outline the reason for its introduction.
FIFA in its reasoning for the change to Law 8 stated that and I quote
'' There have been a number of occasions where goals have been scored from 'uncontested' dropped balls. This has put a great deal of pressure on the referee as he has to allow the goal to stand. We then have the unseemly situation where the opposition allows the team to score from the kick-off without any players trying to stop them in order to re balance the game. ''
So the Law has been introduced to allow the referee to disallow the goal and to go with a goal kick or a corner kick.
So for me if a goal is scored from an 'uncontested' dropped ball and the intention was to kick it back to the goalkeeper then I am not for allowing the goal. Even if the player touches the ball to position the ball to kick it or moves it so as to get a clear kick to the goalkeeper or the goalkeeper tries unsuccessfully to stop the ball then that kick is 'directly' in my opinion. The on field application of the Law does not provide for a legal debate about the merits of 'directly'. If the referee awards a goal kick then that is what it is.
The alternative is for the teams then to agree that it is not a goal and go with the 'unseemly situation of re balancing the game by an uncontested goal at the kick off. No need to go there IMO. Make the 'best' decision for the game using the common sense interpretation of the Laws unless of course your association provides an interpretation which is binding on refreees.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

US Soccer has issued an interpretation - - directly means a single touch. If the original player to touch the ball dribbles, kicks or heads it into the goal on or after the second touch, the result is a goal. In that view, this was a small change in the laws to deal with a very specific situation.

Other federations could differ.