Question Number: 22740

Law 17 - Corner Kick 1/20/2010

Sandy Sullivan of San Diego, CA San Diego asks...

In the following scenario, why is the restart played as a goal kick?

On a corner kick, the ball curved in the air completely over the goal line, returned onto the playing field and was then kicked in the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Sandy
The reason is because the ball went out of play and as the ball was last touched by the attacking side, that is from the corner, the restart is a goal kick.
Remember the ball, placed at the corner, is in play the moment it is kicked and moves. If it is then goes out over the goal line it is out of play.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

As soon as the ball is kicked and moves on a corner kick the ball is in play. It does not need to touch the ground to be out of play - the entire ball simply has to cross all of the invisible plane that runs from the outside edge of the goal line to the top of the sky.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Law 16 says, 'A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.'

That's exactly what happened in your scenario. The player that took the corner kick is a member of the attacking team. Then the ball went completely over the line.