Question Number: 21939

Law 13 - Free Kicks 9/11/2009

RE: rec Under 12

john of Feeding hills, ma us asks...

I know a indirect or direct kick is taken fron the place of the penalty and the defenders have to give ten yards. If it is 8 feet out from the goal on an indirect than the defenders can line up on the goal line.
But my question is where do you put the ball if a penatly happens say two or three feet away from the goal?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I don't think you mean to say 'penalty'. If an indirect free kick offense by the defending team occurs inside the goal area, the ball comes out to the top of the goal area at the six yard line. The defenders may line up on the goal line between the goalposts but the attacking team is free to take the kick quickly and is not required to wait for the defenders to form a wall

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

A 'penalty' refers specifically to a penalty kick, otherwise known as a 'dot shot'. That is when a direct free kick foul (such as a trip) is committed by the defence within their own penalty area, and the attacking team takes the kick from the penalty mark (12 yards out, directly in front of goal, and all players except the kicker and the goalkeeper need to be outside of the penalty area and the arc above it, and behind the ball).

An indirect free kick remains and indirect free kick no matter where on the field it is.

If the offence occurs inside the goal area (6 yard box), then the ball is brought to the top of the goal area, near where the offence occurred.

In this situation - or any where the kick is to occur less than 10 yards from the goal - the defence may line up along the goal line under the posts. This means both feet are to remain on the line - it does not mean they can plant one on the line and lunge forward.

As Ref Contarino said, the attacking team does have a right to take the kick quickly before the defence sets up their wall, unless the referee has told the attackers to wait.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If there is a DFK foul by a defender within his own goal area it is always a PK restart 12 yards in front of goal.
Both teams must clear the penalty area!
If there is a INDFK foul by a defender within his own goal area it is always a restart 6 yards in front of goal per the special circumstances mentioned in law 13 below
The defending team has the right to STAND on the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts on any opposing INDFK within 10 yards of their goal line!
If there is a DFK or INDFK foul by an opponent within your goal area the free kick can be taken ANYWHERE within the confines of the 6 yard area! All opponents must leave the penalty area and NO players can play the ball until it goes beyond the penalty area boundary into play

While the right to a quickly taken free kick on a close in to goal indfk is not prohibited the restart location and circumstances tend to make these close in encounters ceremonial free kicks.

FIFA QUOTE LAW 13 page 37 LOTG
Position of Free Kick
Free Kick Inside the Penalty Area
Direct or indirect free kick to the defending team:
? all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball
? all opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play
? the ball is in play when it is kicked directly out of the penalty area
? a free kick awarded in the goal area may be taken from any point inside that area

Indirect free kick to the attacking team:
? all opponents must be at least 9.15 m (10 yards) from the ball until it is in play, unless they are on their own goal line between the goalposts
? the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves
? 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 (special restart circumstances)
Cheers