Essential Football Knowledge: Corner Kick

A corner kick is awarded when the whole ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored

A corner kick is also awarded when a player accidentally scores an own goal (autogoal) in the following rare situations: directly from a kick off, free kick (whether direct or indirect), throw in, goal kick, corner kick and from a dropped ball, if the ball has not been touched by at least two players

The assistant referee will signal that a corner should be awarded by first raising the flag, then using it to point at the corner area on their side of the pitch. The referee signals the corner by pointing, with an upward extension of the arm, to the corner area from which the kick is to be taken

The ball must be placed in the corner area nearest to the point where the ball passed over the goal line

The ball must be stationary

The corner kick is retaken if the kick is taken with a moving ball, or from the wrong place

The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves; it does not need to leave the corner area

The corner flagpost must not be moved

Opponents must remain at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the corner arc until the ball is in play

The referee allows play to continue if a player while correctly taking a corner kick deliberately kicks the ball at an opponent in order to play the ball again but not in a careless or reckless manner or using excessive force

A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team

If the ball directly enters the kicker’s goal without touching any players, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents 

An attacking player who directly receives the ball from a corner kick cannot be penalised for an offside