Question Number: 32033

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/18/2017

RE: College

Devante Williams of kingston, jamaica asks...

can it be a indirect kick outside of the box for a high foot ?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Devante,
YES!
the INDFK is awarded if this high foot has fulfilled the criteria of PIADM (playing in a dangerous manner) In that the foot created a safety concern where an opponent had to pull out from a challenge or situation to prevent being hurt as in his head stove in or chest impacted. There is NO actual contact but the referee would hold the opinion the act was terribly unsafe exposing the player to grave danger and injury and it affected ongoing play. .
This PIADM infraction REMAINS an INDFK inside OR outside the penalty area. ONLY if there was actual physical contact with the foot hitting the head or chest or body could this become a DFK or PK incident and not be PIADM but SFP (serious foul play) kicking foul or VC violent misconduct .
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Devante,
It depends if the high foot posed a danger to someone, or not. For instance if there is nobody else close by, a player can raise the foot as high as they like without any restriction.

Now, if a player raises the foot to try to play the ball in a manner that threatens injury to someone - including preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury (without making contact) then that is indeed an indirect free kick offence.

If the foot is raised and makes contact with an opponent it becomes a direct free kick offence (or a penalty if inside the penalty area).

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Devante
Dangerous play without contact on an opponent is an infringement of the rules / laws which is punished by an indirect free kick.
So a player who raises his boot high towards an opponent which causes him to not play the ball, pull away from playing the ball is a technical offence punished by an IDFK.
So yes it can be an IDFK offence in certain situations yet not all high boots are dangerous. For instance an overhead kick with the opponents away and behind the kicker would not be an offence as there is no risk. Place an opponent beside the kicker and he tries to head the ball and it is.