Question Number: 23824

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 8/24/2010

RE: Adult

edward levene of london, england asks...

i watched a game on my local park the refree gave a direct free to one of the sides the ball was on the side of the penalty area. As the ball was delived in by the team their own player went towards the ball and was headed in the goal as this allowed to stand i was not sure if this was a goal or not please help.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Why would this not be a goal? I fail to understand your confusion.

You said it was a direct free kick from the side of the penalty area. I assume you mean from just outside the area; there are no direct free kicks inside the PA. So a goal was eligible to be scored.

If you mistyped and it was an indirect kick, then the ball is required to touch another player before entering the goal for it to be valid. That happened here. It doesn't matter which team the second player is on; once it touches someone, it is no longer indirect.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Edward
The only way that a goal could not count on a free kick is if it is an indirect free kick and the ball enters the opponents goal without touching another player or the ball is kicked directly into a team's own goal from a free kick without touching another player. A team cannot score a goal directly on itself from a free kick but that's not what you suggest here. If a player headed a free kick from a team mate into his own goal that is a goal.