Cape Town - Manchester City's Joe Hart managed to get out of jail against Queens Park Rangers on Saturday after a botched free-kick almost led to Charlie Austin scoring the opening goal during a 2-2 draw with the Londoners.
Hart touched the ball twice when he took a free-kick before the ball spooned directly to in-form QPR striker Charlie Austin who fired past the England 'keeper.
Luckily for the Manchester City shot-stopper, Austin's goal celebration was stopped short by the referee following a correct interpretation of FIFA's Law 13.
According to Law 13 Free Kick:
1. The kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.
2. The ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area.
3. If, when a free kick is taken by the defending team from inside its own penalty area, the ball is not kicked directly out of the penalty area, the kick is retaken.
Austin missed out on two goals in the match, the first was for a clear offside with the second a lucky escape for Joe Hart.
Hart touched the ball twice when he took a free-kick before the ball spooned directly to in-form QPR striker Charlie Austin who fired past the England 'keeper.
Luckily for the Manchester City shot-stopper, Austin's goal celebration was stopped short by the referee following a correct interpretation of FIFA's Law 13.
According to Law 13 Free Kick:
1. The kicker must not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.
2. The ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area.
3. If, when a free kick is taken by the defending team from inside its own penalty area, the ball is not kicked directly out of the penalty area, the kick is retaken.
Austin missed out on two goals in the match, the first was for a clear offside with the second a lucky escape for Joe Hart.