Direct Free Kicks and Indirect Free Kicks in Soccer

Soccer is the game for the fast and furious. Every minute of the game has its importance and can be decisive in making or breaking a team. The excitement and thrill in the game is unparalleled and spectators enjoy the game with full liveliness. With every shot of the football, spectators jump with joy and the whole stadium turns into a noisy place. The accuracy of Direct Free Kicks and Indirect Free Kicks in such an exciting game is really of great importance. These free kicks can turn into a match-winning proposition for any team.

FIFA has set a rule that specifies when these free kicks could be awarded to a team. A direct free kick is given to the opposite team if a player commits any of the seven offences mentioned below. However, it largely depends upon a referee’s discretion when he considers a player’s act to be careless, wild or use of unnecessary force while playing on the field.

•    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
•    Tackles an opponent

Besides above mentioned offences, there are three more offences committed by a player that helps the opposite team to qualify for a direct free kick:

•    Holds an opponent
•    Spits at an opponent
•    Handles the ball intentionally (this is not applicable on the goalkeeper when he collects the ball within his own Penalty area)

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposite team, if the violation takes place outside the goalkeeper’s penalty area. The opposite team’s player can kick the ball from the place where the violation takes place.

A direct free kick is taken from the place where the offence is committed by a player. His opponent team’s player gets the chance to hit the ball. This free kick could turn as a match winning event for the team taking advantage of it. So, the player taking the free kick should be skillful enough to take utmost benefit of this kick.

Let’s discuss now indirect free kicks. In soccer, when the game is on, the goalkeeper can touch the ball again before it has been touched by another player, but he can’t touch the ball with his hands. An indirect free kick is allowed, if after the ball is in play, the goalkeeper intentionally handles the ball before another player touches it. In such a case, the opposing team is awarded with an indirect free kick. This kick is to be taken from the place where the violation takes place.

Now, the ten offences mentioned above that help the opposite team to qualify for a free kick can also be reason for a penalty kick, provided the offence is committed inside the penalty area and while the soccer ball is in play. A penalty kick can be very efficiently turned into a goal. A penalty kick is always a golden chance for a team to score a goal that a team never wants to miss.