Question Number: 24078

Law 13 - Free Kicks 10/4/2010

RE: Rec Other

Adam of Dorset, United Kingdom asks...

Hi,

i got this quote:
'For all these offences, the free kick should be taken from the penalty area line, parallel with the goal line, at the nearest point to the offence.'

what does it mean parallel, could you maybe draw me a diagram thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Did you miss geometry? Parallel lines don't touch, but run alongside each other the same distance apart. The touchlines on the field are parallel lines, as are the goal lines.

The line at the top of the goal area (the longer one) is parallel to the goal line, and that is where the ball is placed, nearest to the point of the offense. For example, if the offense was exactly in the center of the goal area, the ball will be placed on the top of the goal area line (the longer line exactly 6 yards from the goal line) exactly in the center of the line.

Does that help? If not, get out your Law book and take a look at the diagrams in Law 1.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Adam
Part of your difficulty may be the term penalty area line. You mean the goal area line or sometimes called the '6 yard line'. So let's say an offence happened on the goal line at a goal post then the indirect free kick would be taken on the '6 yard line' directly out opposite from that post. If the offence happened in the centre of the goals then the IDFK would be in the centre of the goal area line and so on. All of which are parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the foul happened.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I think you have the quote wrong and it should only apply to indirect free kicks. From the Laws Of The Game Law 13 Free Kicks:

Indirect free kick to the attacking team:

? an indirect free kick awarded inside the goal area must be taken on the
goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the
infringement occurred

So any IDFK awarded inside the goal area to the attacking team comes out to the six yard line.
Parallel lines are 2 lines that if extended to infinity will never cross