Direct Free Kicks

Introduction: Difference between a Direct Free Kick, Indirect Free Kick and a Dropped Ball: Six 'careless, reckless or using excessive force' Direct Free Kick Offences: Four additional Direct Free Kick Offences: Summary List of 10 Direct Free Kick Offences: Some... Questions & Answers:

Introduction:

Direct Free Kick offences are known as 'penal offences' in Referees' jargon. During the taking of a Direct Free Kick a goal may be scored directly - but only against the opposing team.

A team taking a direct free kick cannot score a goal against themselves. For example - if a defending team takes a direct free kick just outside of their own penalty area, and the defending team player kicks the ball directly into his own goal (without the ball touching another player) a goal is not allowed. The restart in this situation is a corner kick to the attacking team. If the direct free kick in this example was taken inside the defending team's penalty area, then the restart in this situation is to retake the direct free kick (because the ball only comes into play during the taking of a direct free kick by a defending team inside its own penalty area when the ball wholly leaves the defending team's penalty area without being touched by another player.

A direct free kick cannot be awarded:

- (a) For an offence committed whilst the ball is NOT in play. (e.g. before and whilst a goal kick, a corner kick, a throw-in, a free kick or a place kick is taking place.) For example: If the ball is out of play pending the taking of a throw-in, and a player thumps an opponent on the field of play - the play is restarted with the throw-in, and not a direct free kick. After you have sent off the culprit of course!

- (b) For any offence committed between players of the same team.

- (c) For an offence committed against the Referee, the Assistant Referee or any other person who is not a player.

- (d) For any offence committed off the field of play.

A direct free kick is taken from where the offence occurred. A direct free kick can only be awarded for an infringement committed against an opponent, provided that the ball is in play. A direct free kick takes place where the offence happened and not where the ball was when the Referee stopped play (except deliberately handling the ball). For example - if an attacker in the center circle passes the ball to his colleague who is 15 yards outside of the center circle, and then an opponent decides to chop off the legs of the first attacker who is still in the center circle - the Direct Free Kick will be taken from inside the center circle and not where the ball was when the Referee stopped play.

If a direct free kick offence is committed by a defending team player against an attacking team player inside the defending team's penalty area, then a penalty kick is awarded to the attacking team to be taken from the penalty mark. Opponents must be 10 yards (9.15m) away from the ball when a direct free kick is taken. If a team decides to take a quick direct free kick before the opposition players have had a reasonable amount of time to retreat the 10 yards (9.15m), and the ball subsequently hits a retreating opponent who is near the ball, then it is not expected that the direct free kick should be taken again. By taking a quick direct free kick, the team has attempted to gain an advantage over their opponents. This is fair in Law, but if the advantage does not accrue, they should not be given a second chance - this would be unfair and against the 'spirit of the game'. Referees are strongly advised (when they can) to personally conduct any attacking free kicks near or in the defending team's penalty area. Ask the players who are taking the free kick if they want a whistle signal from you (the Referee) before the free kick takes place. Players are entitled to take a quick free kick if they want too. But asking the players beforehand will prevent any misunderstandings that could and will develop if a quick free kick is taken and a goal is scored. If an attacking team does decide to take a quick free kick before you have asked the players if they want to wait for a signal from you, and a goal is scored - then so long as no infringement has occurred during the taking of the free kick, the goal must be allowed. Aim to be consistent in your handling of free kicks near the penalty area - this will save you lots of trouble.

A free kick (direct or indirect) awarded to the defending team inside its own goal area, may be taken from any point within the goal area.

An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team in its opponents' goal area, is taken from the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the infringement occurred (see diagram below). In this case, the defenders must be at least back on the goal line, when the indirect free kick is taken.

And just to remind you...
a direct free kick awarded to the attacking team in its opponents' goal area is... a PENALTY !!!

The Referee should signal a direct free kick by firstly blowing his whistle to stop play, and then pointing an outstretched arm upwards about 45 degrees from the horizontal, and in the direction that the direct free kick is to be taken. It can also help if you can shout... "Direct Keeper" towards the goalkeeper as a matter of courtesy. Players normally do not have a clue if a free kick should be Direct or Indirect, and as part of man-management, it is recommended that you tell them when you can.

To indicate a free kick, the Assistant Referee will raise and wave his flag backwards and forwards, then point his flag in the direction that the free kick should be taken (as shown in the 2 images to the right). There is no need to make a big show of waving the flag for too long.

If the Referee has not seen the offence, it can also sometimes help, if the Assistant Referee indicates why he signaled for a direct free kick. Discrete small signals by the Assistant Referee towards the Referee such as 'shirt pulling', 'elbowing' and 'pushing' motions will help the Referee understand the nature of the offence. This is all part of the unseen communication between the Referee and his Assistant Referees.

Difference between a Direct Free Kick, an Indirect Free Kick and a Dropped Ball:

Before we go on to look at the Direct Free Kick offences, it can sometimes be difficult for new trainee Referees to differentiate between a direct free kick, an Indirect Free Kick or a 'Dropped Ball' restart.

A Direct Free Kick, an Indirect Free Kick or a Dropped Ball can only be awarded if the Referee needs to stop play whilst the ball is on the field of play (for an offence or a serious injury).

- Direct Free Kick:
- There is ONLY 10 Direct Free kick offences. A direct free kick offence can only be awarded when a player commits an offence against an opposing player whilst the ball is in play. A Direct Free Kick cannot be awarded for offences committed between players of the same team, or for offences committed whilst the ball is NOT in play, or for offences committed off the field of play, or for offences committed against the Referee or team officials or spectators.

- Dropped Ball:
A dropped ball is used to restart play when play has been stopped under the following circumstances:
- Due to external interference (such as a dog entering the field of play)
- If a serious injury is suspected
- After a temporary stoppage that becomes necessary while the ball is in play - for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Laws of the Game (such as a player losing his shorts!!)
- For any other reason which is not covered by Direct and Indirect Free-kicks.

A dropped ball restart cannot be awarded for offences committed whilst the ball is NOT in play

Indirect Free Kick: There are hundreds of reasons to restart play with an Indirect Free Kick. Basically, if the stoppage in play is for a foul or an offence that does not merit the award of a Direct Free-Kick, then an Indirect Free Kick is the correct restart.

- Please note, that on all the above Direct Free Kick, Dropped Ball and Indirect Free Kick restarts, the ball must have been in play when the referee stops play.

A Free Kick (Direct or Indirect) or a dropped ball restart cannot be awarded for offences committed whilst the ball is NOT in play.

For example:

If an offence occurs before the ball has come back into play during the taking of a goal kick or a throw in, play is restarted with either the original goal kick or the original throw-in.

Six 'careless, reckless or using excessive force' Direct Free Kick Offences:

!!!!!!!!! News Flash !!!!!!!!!

It is important to emphasize that the 6 Direct Free Kick offences shown below is considered by you the Referee
to be careless, reckless or using excessive force.
(See question 2 below)
You make this decision - so do not be influenced by anyone else!

- 1. Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent:

- 2. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent:

- 3. Jumps at an opponent:

- 4. Charges an opponent:

- 5. Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent:

- 6. Pushes an opponent:

- A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offences (numbered 1 to 6) on an opponent in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force, and whilst the ball is still in play:

- 1. Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent.

Only the slightest example qualifies, including when a player attempts to kick an opponent - he does not have to make actual contact. A failed kick is just as guilty as a kick, which connects. Kicks can include ankle taps, heel kicks. The kicking action is intended to unbalance an opponent, cause the opponent to falter or prevent the opponent from losing the race for possession of the ball. Kicking or attempting to kick an opponent is normally a sending off offence (serious foul play or violent conduct). I would suggest that, at the very least, guilty players should be Cautioned. It can sometimes be difficult to decide whether a kicking player is just trying to gain an advantage by 'tripping' an opponent, rather than kicking the opponent in a fit of anger with the intention of causing the opponent an injury. The Referee must differentiate between a kick and a trip.
Any player who purposefully kicks or attempts to kick an opponent in anger, MUST BE SENT OFF THE FIELD OF PLAY. A player who trips an opponent is normally Cautioned.

- 2. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent.

A player will use this ruse in an attempt to make his opponent lose balance, lose possession of the ball, falter or fall to the ground. The foot is normally used to trip an opponent, but it is not unknown for a player lying on the ground to stretch out an arm or leg to trip an opponent. An attempted trip is just as guilty as a successful trip. For example: If a defending team player attempts to trip an attacking player in the defending team's penalty area, but the attacking player skips over the tackle - the attempted trip is still a Direct Free Kick offence, and because it occurred in the defending team's penalty area the result is a penalty kick to the attacking team.
Tripping can also be caused by use of the thigh, body or the back (stoop).

- 3. Jumps at an opponent.

You can usually tell when a player has jumped at an opponent rather that attempted to jump for the ball - look at the opponent's eyes or the direction of his face beforehand. When a player is genuinely jumping for the ball, he will normally be looking straight at the ball. Watch for players jumping into opponents during a challenge for a high ball - watch the direction of the jump - is it towards the ball?, or is it towards an opponent?. If it is towards the opponent, then award a direct free kick to the opponent's team. Even the slightest jump towards an opponent is enough to unfairly unbalance that opponent whilst he is attempting to head the ball.

Jumping at an opponent usually happens when the ball is kicked high in the air, and one player attempts to head the ball away, but is challenged by an opponent who because he cannot make fair contact with the ball, jumps at the opponent instead - in an attempt to unbalance the opponent and fool the Referee into thinking that this is a fair challenge. Jumping at an opponent can also occur in many other situations such as an attacking player jumping at a goalkeeper whilst the goalkeeper is attempting to catch a high ball. Referees are advised to be wary of jumping offences particularly after the following restarts: Free Kicks: Goal Kicks: Corner Kicks: and Throw-ins.

- 4. Charges an opponent.

Awarding an Indirect Free Kick for a 'Fair Charge' when the ball was not in playing distance is no longer in the Laws of Associated Football - and was taken out of the Laws in the 1998/99 season.

There is no such thing as penalizing a fair shoulder-charge when the ball is NOT within playing distance.

A FAIR CHARGE is now either a foul or it is not a foul.

Charging is either a foul or it is not a foul.

If two players are running towards the ball, and one (or both players) shoulder-charges the other, the Referee needs to decide if a foul has actually been committed or not - and by whom.

If both players, which the Referee deems NOT to be a foul - make a simultaneous innocuous shoulder charge the game should be allowed to continue. Football is a physical contact game, which allows players to jostle each other whilst trying to gain fair possession of the ball.

A dangerous charge occurs when it is directed at a different part of an opponents body such as the middle of the back, or in the ribs; such a charge even if applied with minimal force is likely to knock the player off balance, or cause some physical injury. A player has to be penalized when charging in a manner, which is careless, reckless or using excessive force.

A player who violently charges an opponent must be sent-off for Violent Conduct - look out for this, particularly during a melee when large numbers of players converge following an incident. A charge to anywhere other than the area of the shoulder or upper arm can be dangerous.

The Referee and the Assistant Referees should aim to get into the best possible position to view charging incidents. Aim to try and be alongside players and get a sideways view. The Assistant Referee is sometimes in a better position to judge such challenges.

The Referee needs to decipher the nuances of what is a foul and what is not a foul during shoulder-to-shoulder contact. Deciding this can be difficult between players of largely differing statures. For example - a large heavy player charging a very small player may look to be an obvious foul when compared to a small player blatantly charging a large heavy player. Jostling for the ball often includes shoulder-to-shoulder contact between opposing players. This is a normal part of the game. It is the severity of the shoulder-to-shoulder contact that deems whether it is a foul or not. The two extremes are a gentle rub of the shoulders between players contesting for the ball, and a blatant violent shoulder charge. The varying levels between these two extremes can be difficult to judge particularly in the mid-range of the spectrum.

A small player is quite capable of fouling a large player by the use of his shoulder. Conversely, it requires less strength for a large player to have the same effect on the smaller player. It is therefore not the size of the respective players that matters, it is the result of the shoulder-charge, and whether or not the Referee judges it's effect to be a foul or not.

Punishments for charging:

- A Direct Free Kick (or penalty) should be awarded to opponents if a charge is deemed by the Referee to be a foul, irrespective of whether the players' are within playing distance or attempting to play the ball or not.

- A Penalty should be awarded if a charge is deemed to be a foul committed on an opponent by a defending player in the defending player's own penalty area.

- A player should be sent-off player off, if a charge is deemed to be a foul and it prevents a goal scoring opportunity.

- A player should be sent-off if a charge is deemed to be violent conduct or serious foul play (example - using excessive force).

If a simultaneous innocuous shoulder charge is made by both players which the referee deems not to be a foul - the game continues.

" Just shout '50/50' get on with it !! "

Striking or attempting to strike, includes when a goalkeeper throws the ball at an opponent (or a colleague for that matter.)

For example: If the ball is still in play, and a goalkeeper who is in his own penalty area deliberately throws the ball at an opponent who is standing outside of the penalty area, then you must award a penalty to the opponent's team. The offence of throwing the ball commenced inside the goalkeeper's penalty area, and is a penal offence, hence the award of the penalty kick against the goalkeeper. It does not matter where the opponent is standing (inside or outside of the goalkeeper's penalty area) or whether the ball hits the opponent or not. Caution or send-off the goalkeeper depending on the severity of the throw.

- 6. Pushes an opponent:

A push is normally executed by use of the hand, but it is also possible to push using the thigh, stomach, shoulder, backside etc.... Only the slightest example qualifies. It is very easy to unbalance an opponent with a slight push. Players are very good at disguising such motions. You will need to be particularly vigilant when opponents are challenging for a high ball, where slight pushes to unbalance opponents are very common occurrences. Try to get a side view of players when any high ball is being challenged for.

Four additional Direct Free Kick Offences:

The following four Direct Free Kick offences do not have to be committed with a careless, reckless or excessive force action. It is the action itself and not the severity of the following four offences that is the Direct Free Kick offence.

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following four offences (Numbered 7 to 10):

- 7. Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball.

- 8. Holds an opponent.

- 9. Spits at an opponent.

- 10. Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).

- 7. Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball.

This offence is fairly easy to spot as a Referee, so long as you keep concentrating on the game action. Any contact with a player during a tackle - no matter how slight a contact - before the ball is touched by a tackler, is deemed a Direct Free Kick.

This does not include the normal shoulder to shoulder
Or
Body contact (see above) made between players,

But refers generally to when (for example) the red player above attempts to make a challenge for the ball with his leg from the blue opponent, but before the red player touches the ball with his leg (or foot) - the red player's leg touches the opponent. This is a Direct Free Kick foul. The severity of the tackle is not a factor in deciding whether the tackle is an offence or not.

Another example of this is when one player tackles another player from behind, but before the player tackling from behind makes contact with the ball, his leg hits the back of the opponents leg. It is irrelevant whether the tackling player eventually makes contact with the ball or not.

In these situations, you (the Referee) will undoubtedly receive many pleasantries from the tackling players, such as " But I played the ball Ref.". Just wave these protests away - if the tackling player persists in moaning about your decision, you can of course Caution him. In these situations, you can sometimes explain to the tackling player, telling them that they made contact with the opponent first, before they touched the ball. It works sometimes!!!!!. Make a note of where the first contact was made. For example: after an initial tackle by a defender just outside of the penalty area, the forward momentum of the players' involved can sometimes continue on into the penalty area. So be sure to make the correct decision to award a direct free kick outside of the penalty area, and not a penalty (if the initial contact was made outside of the penalty area).
An opponent who falls over the ball after a clean tackle on the ball, has not been fouled, unless the challenge was from behind - or the tackle was careless, reckless, or using excessive force.

- 8. Holds an opponent.

Holding normally means clutching an opponent's arm or shirt. Shirt pulling has become popular, and Referees World-wide have been asked to 'clamp-down' on players found guilty of this offence. It is often very difficult to see shirt pulling and holding, you will sometimes have to rely on vigilant Assistant Referees, or good positioning to observe, minimize and penalize this offence. The definition of holding is when a player holds or grasps an opponent, with the aim of unfairly stopping the opponent from moving where he wishes to go.

The use of the hand during holding is not important, opponents can be held with:

- (a) the body leaning against them,

- (b) an arm detaining their progress,

- (c) a wrist on the shoulder thus preventing a player jumping,

- (d) by placing a foot on top of an opponents foot, thus preventing opponents from jumping upwards.

Holding is a direct free kick offence and must not be confused with the impeding (obstruction) indirect free kick offence when a player purposefully puts out an arm to impede the progress of an opponent. An impeding offence (obstruction) is when the offender puts out his arm without first making contact with the opponent, with the aim of blocking the opponent's path. The opponent's momentum may eventually propel him into the outstretched arm - an indirect free kick for impeding (obstruction) should be awarded for this offence. The offence of holding is a more serious offence that warrants a direct free kick, and is when the offender purposefully holds back an opponent by making instant holding contact with his arm or shoulder against that opponent.

The Referee should give a player who just holds an opponents shirt a strong warning. The Referee should caution a player who holds and then tugs or pulls an opponents shirt, causing that opponent to falter or fall to the ground -.

- 9. Spits at an opponent.

Attempting to spit and/or spitting at an opponent is deemed a penal offence and a direct free kick is to be awarded at the place where the spitting originated from, and not where the spit lands.

For example: If whilst the ball is in play, a defender who is standing inside his own penalty area, spits at an opponent (the opponent can be standing inside or outside of the defender's penalty area) - a penalty kick should be awarded, even if the ball was at the other end of the field of play. The spitting offence took place inside the defending player's own penalty area, and is a direct free kick offence, therefore it must be a penalty. It does not matter where the ball was at the time of the offence, so long as the ball was still in play. Spitting must be strongly dealt with. Spitting or attempting to spit at anyone, is now a sending-off offence in its own right.

Anyone guilty of this filthy offence MUST be sent-off

HAND BALL MUST BE 100% DELIBERATE BEFORE IT IS PENALIZED

Again shout - "Get on with it"!!!

Summary: There are a total of... 10 Direct Free Kick Offences:

The first 6 (of the 10 Direct Free Kick offences listed below) are offences considered by theReferee have been
committed carelessly, recklessly or by using excessive force.

- 1. Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent. (Carelessly, recklessly or using excessive force.)

- 2. Trips or attempts to trip an opponent. (Carelessly, recklessly or using excessive force.)

- 3. Jumps at an opponent. (Carelessly, recklessly or using excessive force.)

- 4. Charges an opponent. (Carelessly, recklessly or using excessive force.)

- 5. Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent: (Carelessly, recklessly or using excessive force.)

- 6. Pushes an opponent: (Carelessly, recklessly or using excessive force.)

- 7. Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball.

- 8. Holds an opponent.

- 9. Spits at an opponent.

- 10. Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area).

Some... Questions & Answers:

Question 1: How can the Referee decide what level of punishment to issue when a player commits a foul that is careless, reckless or using excessive force?

Answer 1:

- If a player commits a careless foul, the Referee should warn the player about his misconduct.
- If a player commits a reckless tackle, the Referee should caution the player.
- If a player commits a tackle using excessive force, the player should be sent off.

Question 2: Just exactly what do the words careless, reckless, and using excessive force mean?

Answer 2: Firstly, we must not forget that football is a tough combative sport with lots of body contact between players. Gaining possession of the ball should nevertheless be done in a sporting manner - most challenges for the ball can (and are) committed fairly (if sometimes in a vigorous fashion) and should not always be penalized by the Referee. Serious foul play and violent conduct (including spitting) are strictly forbidden, and must be stringently dealt with by the Referee.

Careless is when a player attempting to challenge for the ball which is in close proximity to an opponent, puts a great deal of honest effort into the challenge, but wildly mistimed it, and in doing so fouls the opponent.

This includes when a player challenging for the ball has not exercised proper care or has misjudged or mistimed a tackle when making his play, or when a player has miscalculated the strength required to challenge fairly or has overstretched his leg when making the challenge. This type of foul is common, and should be penalized with an award of a direct free kick (or penalty if occurring in the guilty player's own penalty area) - and a quiet verbal warning by the Referee. A careless tackle does not necessarily warrant a caution, depending on the severity or the number of persistent offences committee previously by the perpetrator. A quiet word usually suffices in normal circumstances.

The word careless can also mean, absent-minded, hasty, heedless, inconsiderate, negligent, regardless, thoughtless, unconcerned, and sloppy.

The Referee must also learn to differentiate between an act carried out against a youth, and a similar act carried out against a senior (more older) player - what is an excessive push on a minor youth player, might not even be noticed in a professional match involving senior players, where body contact is more prevalent, stronger and readily accepted as part of the game.

Reckless is when a player makes a challenge in a manner where there is a clear risk of endangering an opponent, but pays no regard to the possible consequences and the safety and/or welfare of his opponent.

This includes when a player has made a challenge for the ball, and it is done in such a way that it clearly intimidates (or distracts) an opponent, regardless of any potential danger to that opponent. The challenger himself does not have to make contact with the opponent (many opponents who are being tackled are adept at 'riding' challenges by jumping up to prevent contact being made) the intimidation alone is enough to warrant the tackling player being penalized. For example, a reckless sliding tackle may be executed with the sole aim to intimidate an opponent, or distract him from shooting towards goal. The punishment for a reckless challenge is a direct free kick to the opposing team (or penalty if occurring inside the perpetrator's own penalty area) and a caution for unsporting behavior if the reckless challenge was outside the sporting bounds expected in normal play. A strong verbal warning by the Referee is also recommended.

The word reckless can also mean, daredevil, devil-may-care, foolhardy, harebrained, hasty, headlong, heedless, imprudent, inattentive, irresponsible, madcap, mindless, negligent, over venturesome, rash, regardless, thoughtless and wild.

I like the word 'harebrained'; this sums up (for me) what a reckless challenge is all about! (Webmaster).

Excessive force is when a player makes a challenge, which may be malicious or brutal and may be designed to hurt or maim an opponent.

This are the worst types of tackles to deal with, and is when a player has placed an opponent in considerable danger of being injured by the use of unnecessary force when making a challenge for the ball.

If the challenge involves excessive force far outside the bounds expected in normal play, this is a serious foul play/, and the Referee must send the player off, and award the direct free kick to the opposing team (or penalty if occurring in the perpetrator's own penalty area).

Winning the ball first, is not an excuse for a challenge of this nature to be deemed legal. Players who plead their innocence because they have "won the ball" just before breaking an opponents leg in a tackle using excessive force, should be strongly, immediately and properly dealt with by dispatching from the field of play with a Red card.

Question 3: I was Refereeing a match the other day. What happens when a goalkeeper is running to kick the ball out of his hands, and he crosses the edge of his penalty area (ever so slightly) before he kicks the ball out of his hands? Should he be sent off for a deliberate handball or cautioned or just penalized by the award of a free kick to his opponents?

Answer 3: This is a tricky situation to deal with. Normally, as a Referee, you should be positioned on your diagonal somewhere near the halfway line when the goalkeeper eventually kicks the ball out of his hands. It is therefore impossible for the Referee to judge such incidents with complete accuracy - and in such cases the Referee would need a long periscope to judge whether or not the goalkeeper had slightly stepped over his penalty area line or not, or if the ball is still being held in his hands outside of the penalty area.

In higher-level games, the Assistant Referees would make those decisions. If you are near the halfway line, be 100% sure before you penalize a goalkeeper for handball outside of his the area. The punishment for a goalkeeper handling the ball outside of his area whilst he is attempting to punt the ball up field from his hands is a direct free kick to the opposing team (you do not send the goalkeeper off in this instance (unless you are issuing a second caution to the goalkeeper).

When watching a game, take a very close look at how goalkeepers' actually complete this maneuver. Very often, the goalkeeper actually kicks the ball when both he and the ball have traveled outside of the penalty area, BUT if you watch very carefully, most goalkeepers' actually release the ball from their hands whilst they are still just inside their penalty area. It is only their momentum that takes them (and the ball) outside of the penalty area and in nearly all such cases they have not committed an offence.

For example, they release the ball up into the air whilst they are just inside of their penalty area, the goalkeeper (and the ball) then travel outside of the penalty area before the goalkeeper kicks it up-field. The goalkeeper has committed no offence, and is allowed to kick the ball outside of his penalty area, because once outside of the penalty area - the goalkeeper becomes another outfield player.

It is the moment that he releases the ball that you should be looking for, and not when he kicks it. It is difficult to judge this from a distance and it would need to be seen from a sideways view to be in the best position to discern if it was an offence or not. If you are unsure, let play carry on.

The easiest way to understand this,....is that a goalkeeper can stand outside of his penalty area reach inside of his penalty area and handle the ball. No offence has been committed. It is only when his hands and the ball are outside of the penalty area that it becomes an offence. So it does not matter where his feet are - so long as he does not handle the ball outside of his penalty area.

Question 4: If the goalkeeper moves outside of his penalty area to control a ball last touched by the opposing team, is it permissible for the goalkeeper to dribble the ball back into his penalty area and then pick it up?

Answer 4: The goalkeeper has not committed any infringements and should be allowed to continue with the game. The goalkeeper is entitled to pick up any ball within his own penalty area, so long as it was not deliberately kicked or thrown directly to him by a colleague taking a throw-in (Note also, the goalkeeper is not allowed to handle the ball a second time after it has been released from his possession, and before it has touched another player.) When the goalkeeper leaves his penalty area, he is deemed to be just like another (outfield) player, and as such, he is allowed to play the ball with his feet. Concerning the incident mentioned in the question....... an infringement only occurs if the ball was played back to the goalkeeper deliberately by a team mate....... and the goalkeeper (who is standing outside of his penalty area) dribbles the ball back into the area and then picks it up with his hands. If this happens, an indirect free kick should be awarded to the attacking team because the goalkeeper handled the ball after it had been deliberately kicked back to him by a teammate.

Question 5: An attacking player and a defending player were chasing a ball near the defender's goal. They were running alongside each other - somewhat shoulder-to-shoulder, with the attacking player gaining from being half a step behind. The attacking player was able to stretch a leg alongside and around the defending player who had possession of the ball, and this tackle resulted in the ball ricocheting into the defenders goal, and the opponent falling onto the ground. Should the goal be allowed?

Answer 5: Technically, a tackle of this nature is only a foul, if the player making the tackle, makes contact with any part of the opponent, before connecting with the ball (see Law 12). It is also a foul if the tackle is made from behind. If during this tackle from the side, the attacking player made contact with the ball without first touching the defending player, then the goal should count (as no infringement had occurred). In tackles of this nature, the momentum of the fair challenge on the ball, sometimes unbalances the opponent, and it can look as though the opponent was fouled before the ball was touched. If the attacking player made contact with the defenders leg (before making contact with the ball) - then this is a foul, and a direct free kick should be awarded to the defending team.

There may be occasions in instances like this, when the Referee is not sure what decision to make.

Law 5 states, "The decisions of the Referee regarding facts connected with play are final." So it does not really matter whether the Referee gets it right, or whether he gets it wrong - so long as the decisions are made honestly. Referees should not worry about 'honest decisions'. All Referees will make mistakes. The secret is to learn from them - anyone who thinks that they are perfect, is bound to get disappointed. Those of us, who recognize that we are human, will learn to accept our mistakes and move forward.

Question 6: A goalkeeper comes to the very edge of his penalty area and saves the ball with his chest. When the ball spills away from him, he strikes out an arm and grabs at the ball with his hand and then realizes that his momentum has taken him outside of his penalty area. Should the Referee send him off? The rules clearly state that if a keeper handles outside the area he should not be on the field of play.

Answer 6: There is nothing in the Laws to specifically 'pillory' a goalkeeper for this offence. The Law does say that if a player deliberately handles the ball and denies the opposing team an obvious goal scoring opportunity  then yes, he should be sent off. As soon as the goalkeeper comes out of his penalty area he becomes just another outfield player, and is subject to the Laws the same as they are. The crux of making a decision of this type depends on whether the Referee thinks that there was a goal scoring opportunity or not. The Referee makes that decision and nobody else. It is a tough call to make, and Referees should not shirk that responsibility. If the Referee deems that the action by the goalkeeper prevented an obvious goal scoring opportunity, then the goalkeeper should be sent of. If it was not an obvious goal scoring opportunity, then the opposing team should be awarded a direct free kick at the place where the goalkeeper touched the ball with his hand outside of the penalty area. The Referee can also consider cautioning the goalkeeper for deliberately handling the ball.

Question 7: While the ball is in play a player standing inside his own penalty area throws an object at an opponent standing outside the penalty area. What action does the Referee take?

Answer 7: He stops play and sends off the player who threw the object for violent conduct. Play is restarted by a direct free kick to the opponents' team taken from the place where the offence occurred, i.e. where the object struck or would have struck the opponent.

Question 8: How can a Referee decide whether to give (a) just a direct free kick, or (b) a direct free kick and a caution when the player pulls an opponent's shirt.

Answer 8: When holding actually becomes pulling, it becomes a caution able offence. If two players are in close contact and one player grabs the other players shirt, it is just a free kick, but if one of the players is breaking away with the ball and is pulled back, this is unsporting behavior for which the perpetrator MUST be cautioned. (From Philip Don - during seminar with the Select Referees in England 2001)

Question 9: (From Weston-Super-Mare England Referee colleague).

I had awarded a direct free kick to the away team on the edge of the penalty area. I thought I did everything right, getting the wall back 10 yards (9.15m) and then running backwards to a spot level-ish to the penalty mark - so as to watch encroachment and the goal line in the unlikely event of an accurate shot!! As the player ran up to take the kick (about a step away from the ball) one of the players in or around the wall shouted,

"Miss it you ugly c**t!"

The ball sailed harmlessly over the bar and I ran over to diffuse the situation. The thing is, as I said to them, if I knew who said it they'd have been off, but because I didn't, I couldn't take any action. Was I right in this decision? My only thought was could I have given an IFK around where the voice came from, for unsporting behavior - even without issuing any cards?

Answer 9: The fact that you could not identify the individual in the wall who said "Miss it you ugly c**t!" as the free kick was being taken, means that you cannot take disciplinary action against that individual (whoever he may have been). You were correct in castigating the defending team. Not being able to identify the perpetrator is just bad luck on the Referee's part. Referees will learn from such incidents, and next time will keep a closer eye on proceedings. It is not very often that an incident of this nature will occur - but it does happen from time to time.

During a free kick, the ball does not come into play until it had been touched and moves forward (Law 13). In this instance, the comment was made as the kicker touched the ball. If the Referee is quick enough, then he could blow his whistle before the kicker touches the ball. But in real life, this would be very difficult to achieve, and may serve to 'put the kicker off' when retaking the free kick thus giving the advantage to the infringing team.

The possible restarts in this situation are as follows:

- (a) Award an indirect free kick for unsporting behavior to the attacking team at the spot where the wall (and the offending comment) was made.
- (b) Goal kick to the defending team.
- (c) Retake the free kick.

Let's take each possibility at a time.

- (a) Award an indirect free kick for unsporting behavior to the attacking team at the spot where the wall (and the offending comment) was made.

As the comment was made before the free kick took place, and whilst the ball was out of play, you cannot award another free kick in a different position. In short, you cannot award free kicks for incidents happening when the ball is out of play (i.e. before the original kick took place).

- (b) Goal kick to the defending team.

Because you did not blow your whistle to stop play before the kicker completed the free kick, then a goal kick is a possible option. But it gives the offending team the advantage – this is definitely against the "Spirit of The Game."

- (c) Retake the free kick.

Taking all things into consideration, a retake may be a better option. The fact that the guilty defender committed an unsporting act before the free kick took place, with the sole aim of distracting the player taking the free kick, should lead to the attacking team being allowed to retake the free kick properly.

Law 5 (Referees Power and Duties) states that the Referee can stop, suspend, or terminate the match, at his discretion, for any infringements of the Laws. This is a part of the Laws that you can use to allow the free kick to be retaken.

Taking all things into account, and the complexity of the incident, I would probably have taken the same action as you and awarded a goal kick restart – but to ensure fair play, and using the Laws correctly, the free kick should have been retaken (because the incident happened before the kick took place). But to be honest, players would not have a clue about what should be the correct decision's so whatever you do would be correct. If you gave a dropped ball, they would be none the wiser !!!! And neither would most Referees. This was a very difficult decision for you to make in an instant, and you did OK. Some times, you have to rely on instinct  and mostly it works as it did in your case.

Many thanks colleague, for this very interesting and complex question, I just hope that it never happens to me!!!

Well done if you have made it this far to the end of the Law 12 DIRECT FREE KICKS page.