Question Number: 5342

Law 13 - Free Kicks

John Nathan of Pembroke, Ma USA asks...

The defending team is awarded a direct free kick inside their .own penalty area. The kick goes over their "own" goal line..Is it a corner or a retake? The ball must go beyond the penalty area to be in play, however in this case it went beyond the penalty area to an "out of play area", so it was not kicked directly into play.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

John if I understand you correctly you ask if direct free kick, having been kicked into play in the outfield, then by some force going directly into that sides own goal is a goal. NO. Law 13 states that if a direct free kick is kicked directly into an opponents' goal, a goal is awarded. It further states that a direct free kicked into a side's own goal is a corner kick. Law 13 is, also, specific in that: if the ball is not kicked into play the kick is retaken. ..The Laws of the Game are written in a simple form. Because of this fact some fall into frames of mind that allow interpretations other than those the writers intended. It is a simple Game, don't make it complex. The out of play area you mention is called touch. The free kick you describe was kicked directly into touch, not into play. ..Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I read your question differently. I think you are asking if a team is taking a DFK from inside their own penalty area and kick the ball directly over their own goal line without putting the ball in play, what is the restart? If so it's a retake even if they kicked it into the net as it was never put into play.If you are saying they kicked the ball outside their own penalty area but over their own goal line, then the restart would be a corner kick as the ball left the penalty area before going over the goal line

Answer provided by Referee Gary Sebalja

The area around the net of the goal mouth is not part of the FOP the net is only there to catch the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Fredrikssonk

It is a retake!