Question Number: 28154

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 2/3/2014

RE: rec Adult

alex of richmond hill, ontario canada asks...

A drop ball has to be retaken if touched by a player before it hits the ground, and play restart once the ball touches the ground. The last paragraph in law 8 states if the dropped ball kicked into the opponent's goal then it becomes a goal kick. Also the dropped ball kicked into one's own goal becomes a corner kick. How can this be if the the play has restarted once it hits the ground?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Alex, simply stated it's that way because IFAB made it that way. They were trying to eliminate the non-fair 'fair start' that happens every once in a while where the player says he will return the ball back to the other goalkeeper. Then it bounces over the keeper's head and goes in the goal.

Interestingly, the play that caused all the consternation in Europe that led to this change wouldn't even be fixed by the change. That's because the player touched the ball more than once before blasting it into the net, and the change only addresses a ball that goes in the net off the first touch.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Alex
Because the Lawmakers say so. The reason for this is that there has been a number of controversies with 'Fair Play' restarts with goals being scored directly from dropped balls. Then we have a serious match issue with perhaps the possibility of an uncontested goal being scored to make good the situation. This law change does away with all that in that a goal cannot be scored directly from a dropped ball by either team.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Why does an IFK need to touch a player if it's in play when it's kicked and moves?

Why can't a throw-in be taken directly into a goal if it's in play once it enters the field?

Why can't you score against your own team from any restart?

The ball may be in play, but there are still certain conditions surrounding the entry of the ball into play.