If a player kicks the ball backward during a kickoff, what should the official do?

During a kickoff, the objective is to start the game or resume play from where it left off. The Laws of the Game state that the ball must be kicked forward into the opponent's half of the field. However, if a player inadvertently kicks the ball backward, it is not considered a foul nor an infraction of the rules. The key point is that the kickoff has not been executed correctly since the ball must leave the center circle by moving forward.

In this scenario, the official should simply allow play to continue after the backward kick. This is because the other players are allowed to react to the ball regardless of its direction immediately following the kickoff. If it becomes evident that the kickoff was ineffective, the official may opt for a re-kick instead, but no foul is committed in this instance. Thus, allowing play to continue is the appropriate response.