BBC SPORT | Football | Laws & Equipment (original) (raw)

Direct free-kicks are the most dangerous for defences

When the ref blows the whistle for a foul or misconduct, it helps the kicker to know if they can shoot straight at goal.

So when is a free-kick direct or indirect?

Here are 10 offences that can lead to a direct free-kick.

When a player:

• Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
• Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
• Jumps at an opponent
• Charges an opponent
• Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
• Pushes an opponent
• Makes contact with the opponent before touching the ball when tackling
• Holds an opponent
• Spits at an opponent
• Handles the ball deliberately
  If any of these offences are committed by a player inside their own penalty area then it's a penalty.
  Did you know that if a team kicks a direct or indirect free-kick directly into its own goal, then a corner is awarded to the opposition?

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