Question Number: 22823

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/15/2010

RE: Competitive Adult

Wayne of Lauderhill, Florida USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 22777

When should an indirect free kick be awarded as opposed to a direct free kick?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It is easier to learn the ten fouls for which under Law 12 the restart is a direct free kick. There are lots of infringements for which the restart is an indirect free kick.

Law 12 indicates seven fouls for which there is an indirect free kick: five involve goalkeepers ( GK taking more than six seconds to release the ball from the hands; GK touching the ball directly from a teammate's throw in, from a teammate's deliberate kick, or the GK touching the ball again directly after the keeper releases the ball; and any player interfering with the GK's release of the ball); two involve any players (impeding; playing in a dangerous manner).

Law 12 also provides for an IFK if play is stopped for an act that is not a foul but is misconduct (caution or sendoff) committed by a player on the field (e.g., dissent or abusive gestures) or if the referee judges that a player left the field for the purpose of committing the misconduct.

Law 3 provides for an IFK if play is stopped because a substitute has improperly entered the field.

Law 11 provides for an IFK for offside infringement.

Law 14 provides for an IFK if the attacking team infringes the law during a penalty kick and a goal is not scored.

On a restart (other than a dropped ball) if the kicker/thrower touches the ball a second time before it touches another player, the restart will be an IFK. (Laws 8, 13, 15, 16, and 17)

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Look under law 12. There are fouls that are direct versus indirect. Examples of indirect fouls are playing in a dangerous manner, impeding progress of opponent, technical keeper violations (holding ball for more than 6 seconds, handling when a ball is thrown directly to keeper via throw in by teammate, handling when ball is kicked deliberatly to keeper by teammate, and picking ball back up after releasing ball with no one touching it). Also, offside results in an IFK and so does a second consecutive touch once a ball is in play on a restart. This is something that is very basic and you need to know.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Wayne
FIFA has an excellent resource on its web site on all the Laws of the Game. This link covers Direct and Indirect Free Kicks along with misconduct.

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/afdeveloping/refereeing/law%5f12%5ffouls%5fmisconduct%5fen%5f47379.pdf

I hope that helps