Own Goal From a Free Kick: What Actually Happens

You won't find many sights sillier than a footballer lasering a free kick into their own net. But did you know that, under the Laws of the Game, it doesn't actually count as a goal? An own goal from a free kick is one of football's strangest rules — here's exactly what happens.

TL;DR: A free kick cannot be scored into the taker's own goal. If the ball goes straight in, a corner is awarded to the opposition instead.

The Rule: No Own Goals From Free Kicks

Under IFAB Law 13 — Free Kicks, a goal can be scored directly against the opposing team from a direct free kick. But the Laws explicitly state that a free kick cannot score an own goal. If the ball travels directly into the taker's own goal, the referee does not award a goal.

This applies to both direct and indirect free kicks — a key detail many fans overlook.

The Outcome: A Corner, Not a Goal

So what does the referee give instead? When the ball goes straight into the own goal from a free kick, the restart is a corner kick awarded to the opposing team.

The same principle covers most restarts. According to Wikipedia's breakdown of the Laws of the Game, own goals cannot be scored directly from a kick-off, goal kick, throw-in, corner kick, dropped ball, or free kick.

Why the Rule Exists

It comes down to fairness and the purpose of restarts. A restart is meant to restart play — not hand either team an accidental gift. Treating a direct own goal as a goal would let a defender's blunder count against them in a way the Laws never intended. A corner is a fair, proportionate response.

Does Anyone Ever Do It?

Deliberately scoring an own goal is unsporting behaviour. A player who intentionally turns a free kick into their own net could be booked or even sent off for misconduct — the goal would not stand.

In Short

• Direct or indirect free kick into your own net = no goal.
• The referee awards a corner kick to the opposition.
• Deliberate own goals risk a yellow or red card.