Own Goal From a Free Kick: What Happens?

Picture it: a defender steps up to launch a free kick back upfield, mistimes it, and the ball flies past their own keeper. Can it stand as an own goal from a free kick? The surprise is that under football's Laws of the Game, such a goal is almost never credited.

TL;DR: A player cannot score an own goal directly from a free kick — if the ball goes straight into their own net untouched, the referee awards a corner kick.

The Corner Kick Rule

Law 13 of the IFAB Laws of the Game is clear: "If a direct or indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team's own goal, a corner kick is awarded." So if the ball flies into your own net untouched, there is no goal and no own goal — play restarts with a corner to the opposition.

When It Can Count as an Own Goal

The one exception is a deflection. If the ball clips a teammate or an opponent, it is no longer "direct," and the player making the last touch is credited with the own goal. That is why own goals from free kicks come from scrambles, never a clean strike.

Why the Rule Exists

The rule protects the scoring side, not the defender. Because an own goal can't be scored directly, a wild free kick into your own net just hands the opponent a corner. As Wikipedia's breakdown of the free kick law notes, an own goal may not be scored directly from any free kick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is credited with an own goal from a free kick?

Only if the ball touches another player first. The footballer who made the final touch earns it; a clean entry into your own net means a corner.

Is it different for an indirect free kick?

The same corner-kick rule applies — a direct own goal from an indirect free kick is also just a corner.

What if it goes in the opponents' goal by mistake?

That's a different story. A direct free kick into the opposition's net is a goal; a direct one from an indirect free kick is a goal kick.

Think you know every rule? Put your football knowledge to the test with other fans on — the social network built for the beautiful game.