Own Goal From a Free Kick: What Happens in Soccer?

Everyone knows that sickening feeling when a teammate clears a cross into their own net. But what happens if a player scores an own goal from a free kick? Can a free kick fly straight into your own goal and count against you? The short answer is no — the reason is in the IFAB Laws of the Game.

TL;DR: You cannot score an own goal directly from a free kick — if the ball goes straight into your own goal, the referee awards the opposition a corner kick.

The Rule in Law 13

Under IFAB Law 13, direct and indirect free kicks share the same restart rule:

• Kicked directly into the opposition's goal — it counts as a goal
• Kicked directly into your own goal — a corner kick is awarded, no goal

So a defender or keeper who accidentally knocks the ball backwards into their own net gets lucky: it becomes a corner, not a goal.

Why the Rule Exists

The law stops players being punished for a freak own goal from a restart they could never intend. A goal only counts when the ball crosses the line from an attacking action, not a defensive mishap.

When an Own Goal IS Possible

The catch: the rule only covers the ball going directly in. Once a free kick touches another player, normal play applies.

• Deflection: if your free kick ricochets off a teammate and goes in, an own goal can be credited
• Open play: an own goal from a scrambled corner is scored normally, per this own goal guide

Since 2016-17, this rule also covers kick-offs, goal kicks, drop balls, throw-ins, and corners.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a goalkeeper score an own goal from a free kick?

Only if the free kick deflects off a teammate first. Kicked straight into their own net, it is a corner.

Is an own goal credited to the player?