Law 12 Fouls and Misconduct

Indirect Free Kick

Indirect Free Kick (IFK) can be classified as technical or procedural errors.

Indirect Free Kick (IFK) offenses:
• Off-sides
• Touches the ball with the hand/arm after releasing it and
   before it has touched another player (Double touch)  
• Plays in a dangerous manner (playing the ball while on the   
   ground or a high kick with opponents in proximity)
• Impedes the progress of an opponent without any 
   contact being made
• Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from
   the hands or kicks or attempts to kick the ball when 
   the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing it
• Delaying the restart of play
• Dissent by word or action
• Entering, re-entering or deliberately leaving the field of play
   without the referee’s permission
• Failing to respect the required distance when play is
   restarted with a dropped ball, corner kick, free kick or
   throw-in
• Persistent offences (no specific number or pattern of
   offenses constitutes 'persistent')
• Unsporting behavior (Very Broad - feigning injury, changes
   with goalkeeper w/o Referee permission, removes shirt after
   a goal. Initiates a deliberate trick for the ball to be passed
   (including from a free kick or goal kick) to the
   goalkeeper with the head, chest, knee etc. to
   circumvent the Law, whether or not the goalkeeper
   touches the ball with the hands; the goalkeeper is
   penalized if responsible for initiating the deliberate
​   trick, shows lack of respect for the game and so on....)

An indirect free kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their penalty area, commits any of the following offences:
• Controls the ball with the hand/arm for more than six
   seconds before releasing it
• Touches the ball with the hand/arm after releasing it and
   before it has touched another player
• Touches the ball with the hand/arm, unless the goalkeeper
   has clearly kicked or attempted to kick the ball to release it
   into play, after:
• Deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a team-mate
​   (Pass-back)
• Receiving it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate

To kick either a DFK or a(n) IFK:
- Ball must be stationary
- Kicker may not play the ball a second time until the ball has been touched by any other player.
- Opposing players must be 10 yards from the ball.
- The ball is considered in-play when the ball is kicked and clearly moves.