Controversial FA Sunday Cup goal has fans debating whether corner was legal

A Sunday league screamer has caused huge debate on social media over whether the corner was taken legally.

AFC Hackleton produced one of the best corner routines ever seen after they used their knowledge of the laws of football to their advantage. The Northamptonshire team ran out 3-0 winners over FC Hazelwell to progress to the last 16 of the FA Sunday Cup.

On their way to victory, a genius corner routine saw the original taker roll the ball in the quadrant, before walking away. A second player then came to take what the opposition believed was the corner as no defender followed the player out wide.

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After the players conferred with each other that the ball was active and in play, the second player dribbled the ball towards goal and unleashed a rocket of a left-footed strike into the far top corner. Hackleton players ran off in celebration, with the linesman not far behind holding his thumb up to confirm to the referee that the corner was seemingly taken legally.

However, some fans in the comments section of the social media post questioned whether the goal should’ve stood. One said: “This was done 30 odd years ago. The ball should have at least 1 revolution & the opposition should be notified that it’s allowed to happen.” A second wrote: “Ball didn't do a full revolution, lino has had a mare.” With a third adding: “He rolled it with his foot so technically a double touch. Shouldn’t have counted.”

What are your thoughts on the goal? Let us know in the comments section.

But the definitive answer regarding the legality of the goal is this: The corner law (which is law 17 in the laws of the game) states:

“Procedure: 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 and is kicked by a player of the attacking team • 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 important bit of the law regarding the clip states that the ball must ‘clearly move’ and ‘does not need to leave the corner area' – therefore it is absolutely right to stand by the letter of the law.

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