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Free kick (association football)

A free kick is a method of restarting play in association football. It is awarded after an infringement of the laws by the opposing team.

An attacking goal may be scored directly from a direct free kick, but not from an indirect free kick.

Direct free kicks are awarded for more serious offences ( and most types of foul play – see below for a complete list), while indirect free kicks are awarded for less serious offences.

handball

A direct free kick cannot be awarded in the offending team's : if a team in its own penalty area commits an offence normally punished by a direct free kick, a penalty kick is awarded instead. An indirect free kick may be awarded for an offence committed anywhere.

penalty area

Free kicks may be either direct or indirect, distinguished as follows:

if the offence was within the kicking team's own , the free kick may be taken from anywhere within the goal area.

goal area

if an indirect free kick is awarded for an offence within the offending team's own goal area, the kick is taken from the nearest point on the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal line.

if the offence took place outside the field of play, the free kick is taken from the boundary line nearest to where the offence occurred.

for certain technical offences (a substitute starts a match without the being informed; a player or team official enters the playing area without the referee's permission but without interfering with the game) play is started with an indirect free kick from the place where the ball was when play stopped.

referee

Quick free kick[edit]

A team may choose to take a "quick" free kick, that is, take the kick while opponents are within the 9.15-metre (10-yard) minimum required distance. This is usually done for some tactical reason, such as surprising the defence or taking advantage of their poor positioning. The referee has full discretion on whether to allow a quick free kick, and all other rules on free kicks still apply. However, in taking a quick free kick the kicking team waives their entitlement to retake the kick if an opponent who was within 9.15 m (10 yards) intercepts the ball.[5] Football governing bodies may provide further instruction to referees on administering quick free kicks; for example, the United States Soccer Federation advises that referees should not allow a quick free kick if a card is shown prior to the restart, if a trainer has to enter the field to attend to an injured player, if the kicking team requests enforcement of the 10-yard (9.15 m) rule, or if the referee needs to slow the pace of the match (e.g., to talk to a player).[6]

handball (except for the goalkeeper within the penalty area)

[9]

[9]

holding an opponent

[10]

impeding an opponent with contact

[10]

biting or spitting at someone

[10]

throwing an object at the ball, an opponent or a match official, or making contact with the ball with a held object

[10]

any physical offence, if committed within the field of play while the ball is in play, against a team-mate, substitute, substituted or sent-off player, team official or a match official

[11]

[12]

History[edit]

Before 1863[edit]

The concept of a free kick—i.e., an opportunity to kick the ball without being challenged by opponents—is found in public school football games from the early nineteenth century. The three situations in which the free kick was typically found are:[23]

Work on your Freekicks

When is a direct free-kick awarded?

IFAB

Law 13 - Free Kicks