Question Number: 34592

Law 13 - Free Kicks 5/16/2022

Petr of Prague, Prague Czech Republic asks...

Hello,

I have one more bizarre question.

Which part of the body can play a free/goal/corner kick?

One colleague thinks it's allowed even by the head. The other says it's allowed to knee. Only the foot is clear to me.

Thank you very much!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Petr
Not as bizarre as you might think.
The Law state that the ball must be kicked and clearly moved. The glossary tells us that the ball is kicked when a player makes contact with the foot and/or the ankle

So the ball cannot be headed or kneed at a restart. So to put the ball into play it must be kicked. If a player was to do something other than kick the ball it could only be seen as circumvention which is a caution and the restart is an IDFK.

If it was done for a laugh then a referee would be entitled to caution for USB and again an IDFK restart.

So your opinion is correct whereas both your colleagues are in error. The ball must be KICKED at a restart.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Petr ,
your friends are a tad confused, the LOTG require the ball be kicked and discernably moved with some some part of the foot . The ball can be flicked up onto the head or knee of a TEAM mate for a continuation but the ball must be kicked and moved to start. If they tried such foolishness its possble a caution for USB or delaying the restart could be warranted!
Cheers