The corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball crosses the goal line after last being touched by the defending team. Both the referee and assistant referee are responsible for indicating when a corner kick should be awarded. When signaling the ball out of play, the assistant referee must maintain the signal until acknowledged by the referee. For clear decisions, the flag is pointed downward toward the nearest corner flag. For tight decisions, the assistant referee first raises their flag to inform the referee before signaling for a corner kick. The procedures for a corner kick and infringements that could occur are then outlined.

1. Law 17
The Corner Kick

2. Topics
2
• Duties and Responsibilities
• Ball In Play and Out of Play
• Flag Technique
• Cooperation and AR signals
• Procedures - Infringements

3. Duties and Responsibilities
3
When the whole of the ball has crossed the entire width
of the goal line, not counted as a goal and last touched
by a defender, a corner kick is awarded.
The responsibility for indicating that the ball has left the
field of play and that a corner kick should be awarded is
shared by the referee and each assistant referee.

4. Ball in Play and Out of Play
4
Whenever an A.R. signals the ball out of the play, he
must retain the signal until acknowledged by the referee.

5. Flag technique
5
Regardless of the corner to be used or which official has
primary responsibility:
the flag is pointed downward toward the nearest
corner flag
for clear decisions, direct signal
when the ball goes over the goal line and the decision
is tight the assistant referee must first raise his flag to
inform the referee the ball is out of play

6. Cooperation and AR Signal
6
Ball leaves the field of play across the AR’s
side of the goal line.
Unclear situations:
Clear situations:
raise the flag (if
show corner kick
necessary)
directly
make eye contact
priority for A.R.
follow referee’s signal

7. Cooperation and AR Signal
7
Ball leaves the field of play across the
referee’s side of the goal line.
Unclear situations
Clear situations
make eye contact
show corner kick directly
priority for Referee
just follow referee’s
signal

8. Cooperation and AR Signal
8
Regardless of the corner used for the kick, the AR is
positioned in line with the goal line behind the corner flag.

9. Cooperation and AR Signal
9
The AR assists the referee to ensure that:
the ball is properly placed
the corner flag is not moved
opponents are at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the corner arc

10. Procedures - Infringements
10
The ball is kicked by a player of the attacking team.
The ball shall be placed inside the corner arc and is in
play when it is kicked, therefore the ball does not need to
leave the corner arc to be in play.

11. Procedures - Infringements
11
A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but
only against the opposing team.
There is no offside offence if a player receives the ball
directly from a corner kick.

12. Procedures - Infringements
12
Opponents remain at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the
corner arc until the ball is in play (use the optional marks
off the field of play for assistance)
to deal with these situations, referees shall warn any
players within this distance before the corner kick is
taken and caution the player if he fails to retreat to the
correct distance. Play shall be restarted with a corner
kick

13. Procedures - Infringements
13
If the kicker touches the ball a second time before it has
touched another player, including if the ball rebounds
from a goal post, an indirect free kick shall be awarded to
the opposing team in the position where the second
touch occurred.*

14. Procedures - Infringements
14
If a player, while correctly taking a corner kick,
intentionally kicks the ball at an opponent in order to
play the ball a second time but neither in a careless nor a
reckless manner nor using excessive force, the referee
shall allow play to continue.