Question Number: 22156

Law 17 - Corner Kick 10/4/2009

RE: rec, comp Under 15

Jim Cowen of El Sobrante, CA USA asks...

Law 17, under 'Corner kick taken by the goalkeeper', I have questions about two parts.
First, it specifies the GOALKEEPER touches the ball a second time...
I don't see any difference whether it is the GK kicking or not, and wonder why they seem to specify a seperate rule for the GK kicker when it is the same rule.
Second, it says if 'the goalkeeper deliberately handles the ball before it has touched another player: ... an IDFK is awarded... if the infringement occured inside the goalkeeper's penalty area...'
This scenario would have a offensive GK running the length of the field to take the corner kick, kicking the ball toward his own goal hard enough to reach his own penalty area (a silly thing to do), and sprinting to his own penalty area, running the farthest distance of any player and beating every other player in order to get the first touch. I suppose it is possible if the defending team were clumsy, but it seems so close to impossible as to be silly. So, why the seperate specification in the law? Or am I missing something?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Cowen
Thanks for your question and observation. You might be surprised to learn that when something has been omitted from the laws even though it is so blatantly obvious that it then allows some to debate whether it is an offence or indeed the restart. I'm constantly being challenged by referees about this on opinions where one cannot refer to a law or decision directly from the Laws. Consistency within the laws such as restarts is important so that no matter what law is read there is no doubt or debate.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Yep, sometimes the writers of the Laws have gone to excruciating detail to define something that will rarely or never happen. And then other times they don't document things that are very important to the game because 'everyone knows' that. I guess you have to be part of their culture to figure out why.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Keeper has certain restrictions and certain privileges of the use of his hands inside his own penalty area thus if that second touch is with the hands they differentiate on the possible permutations of when and where it occurs. Some of course are the exact same as a player others are not! They basically cover their butts on any unusual circumstance! Yes a corner kick by him into his own goal is farcical as is a scoring on himself on a throw in but the principles of not being able to directly hurt your self on the restart are always maintained no matter how stupid you would have to be to do so!
Cheers