If a free kick is kicked into the kicker's own goal, what is the restart?

When a free kick is taken by a player and accidentally goes into their own goal, the correct restart is that no goal is awarded. Instead, a corner kick is given to the opposing team. This is because the Laws of the Game state that a goal cannot be scored directly from a free kick taken by the attacking player into their own goal.

In situations like this, the logic is based on fairness and maintaining the integrity of the game. The defending team is not meant to benefit from an own goal scored directly from a free kick. Therefore, the restart with a corner kick allows the opposing team to have a legitimate opportunity to score, rather than penalizing them for a situation that originated from the kicker’s unintentional error.

This understanding reinforces the emphasis on proper procedures for restarts in various scenarios, highlighting the importance of knowing the specific rules surrounding free kicks and own goals.