Own Goal From a Free Kick? Here's What Happens in Soccer
A soccer player striking a free kick on the pitch
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Soccer's Laws of the Game rarely get stranger than this: a player can smash a free kick into their own net and it won't even count as a goal. If a direct or indirect free kick curls into the team's own goal, the referee simply awards a corner kick to the opposing side.
TL;DR: An own goal from a free kick is not a goal — the Laws award a corner kick to the attacking team instead.
Law 13: What the Rules Say
According to the IFAB Laws of the Game, when a free kick is kicked directly into the team's own goal, play restarts with a corner kick. This applies to both direct and indirect free kicks.
So an attempted clearance that flies backwards into your own net — or a mis-hit pass to your keeper — never registers as a goal. The scoreboard doesn't change.
Free Kick Outcomes Compared
- A direct free kick into the opponents' goal is a legitimate goal.
- An indirect free kick into the opponents' goal is a goal kick.
- A direct or indirect free kick into your own goal is a corner kick.
The asymmetry exists because you shouldn't profit from scoring against yourself.
How Rare Is an Own Goal From a Free Kick?
These incidents are extremely rare because defenders usually track back and the kicker aims forward. When it happens, it's a catastrophic back-pass or misjudged header rather than a deliberate strike.
If your team concedes a bizarre own-goal free kick, the correct restart is a corner — not a goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an own goal from a free kick count?
No. Under Law 13, a free kick struck directly into the team's own goal is not a goal. A corner kick is awarded instead.
Does the rule differ for direct vs indirect free kicks?
No. Either type kicked into your own net results in a corner kick.
Can the goalkeeper score an own goal from a free kick?
Yes. If a keeper mis-kicks a free kick into their own net, the same rule applies — a corner kick is awarded.
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