Direct free kick

A direct free kick is a method of restarting of association football following a foul. A goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player. This is opposed to an indirect free kick where the ball must be passed before an attempt on goal.

According to The Laws of the Game, if the ball goes out of play, a player may not play the ball again until it has been touched by another player or has gone out of play. A player who infringes concedes an indirect free kick to the opposing side.

A direct free kick is awarded when a player commits a foul outside of their own penalty area (for offsides, etc., an indirect free kick is awarded). However, if the offence was committed by the defending team within their own penalty area, the kick becomes a penalty kick. It is not acceptable.

The kick is taken from where the foul occurred, unless it was within the fouled team's own goal area, in which case it may be taken from anywhere within the goal area. The ball must be stationary prior to being kicked. Opponents must remain 10 yards (9.1 metres) from the ball (also, outside of the penalty area if the kick is taken from within the defending team's penalty area) until the ball is in play. Observing the minimum distance limit, the opposite players may choose to form a "wall" between the ball and the goal.

Vanishing foam has been used at the professional level since 2000 to keep the defending players at the right distance.

To keep the initiative a quick free kick is sometimes taken without waiting for the opposing players to retire from the 9.15 m (10-yard) radius.

The ball becomes in play as soon as it is kicked and moves, unless the kick was taken from within the kicking team's penalty area, in which case it is in play once it has passed directly beyond the penalty area.

A goal may be scored directly from a direct free kick, but only against the opposing side (i.e. an own goal may not be scored). Should the ball directly land in the kicking team's own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team. A player may be penalised for an offside offence committed from a direct free kick; with the exception of receiving the ball directly from a goal kick or corner kick.

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