Indirect free kicks

Indirect free kicks in football are both extremely common and rare, depending on where they occur on the pitch. So what is an indirect free-kick and when is it applicable?

What is an indirect free-kick in football?

In short, a goal may not be scored directly from an indirect free kick. Rather, the ball must be touched by an additional player, from either side, before a shot can be taken. On the contrary, a direct free kick can be aimed directly at goal on the initial touch.

In short, a goal may not be scored directly from an indirect free kick. Rather, the ball must be touched by an additional player, from either side, before a shot can be taken.

While this is great for explanation, it is rare that indirect free kicks cause any direct goal threat. Actually, indirect free kicks are frequently awarded but from a position where one would not care to go for goal.

In general, the types of infringements that lead to indirect free kicks are often more technical and usually don’t involve direct player-to-player contact. This is contrary to both direct free kicks and penalties that revolve around incidents such as careless tackles or the use of excessive force.

Indirect free kick signal

The referee will signal the indirect free kick by raising his or her arm vertically above the head.

Offside & indirect free kicks

An offside is the most common type of infringement that leads to an indirect free kick. After an offside has been called, play is restarted by the non-offending team.

Dangerous play

When a 'dangerous play' offence is being called, the referee will take it in a serious manner, as it involves the threat of dangerous physical contact.

An example of this occurred in a match between Real Madrid and Sevilla. As Cristiano Ronaldo attempted to head in a cross, the Sevilla defender tried to clear the ball by raising his soleplate, coming extremely close to making dangerous contact. Had direct contact been made, it would have been a penalty, but since it was a dangerous play foul, the result was an indirect free-kick inside the box.

Indirect free kick inside the box

So what else warrants an indirect free kick in the box instead of a penalty? If the committed act is punishable by an indirect free kick, then it’s an indirect free kick, even if the offence occurs inside the penalty box. Other infringements that lead to indirect free kicks inside the penalty area revolve around the goalkeeper handling the ball in an illegal manner.

If the committed act is punishable by an indirect free kick, then it’s an indirect free kick, even if the offence occurs inside the penalty box.

Back-pass rule

Denmark had a solid strategy in place when they back passed their way to glory in the summer of ‘92. Later that same year, the back-pass rule was introduced, preventing the goalkeeper from handling a teammate’s deliberate backpass. In 1997 the rule was revisited to include throw-ins as well.

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In general, it is the use of the foot that determines it as a backpass. This means that other parts of the body are usually exempt from the back-pass rule. An example of this is when a defender averts the opposition's cross by heading the ball into the hands of their shot-stopper. This does not mean players can use deliberate tricks to circumvent the rule, such as dropping to the knees to head the ball back along the ground.

Goalkeeper 6 second rule

Goalkeepers are only permitted to hold the ball for 6 seconds. While it is a law of the game, it is situational and it is quite rare that the referee will enforce it. We will occasionally see keepers holding on to the ball for a little longer without getting penalized. But if it becomes excessive or if the goalkeeper has already been warned, the referee can make the call.

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Other rules for indirect free kicks

An indirect free-kick inside the opposition's goal area will be taken from the nearest point of the goal area which runs parallel to the goal line. The defending team is allowed to place a free kick wall on their own goal line between the posts.

Other reasons for an indirect free kick to be awarded include:

• if the goalkeeper releases the ball from his hands and then picks it up again, without it touching another player
• if a player prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
• If a player impedes the progress of an opponent without making contact

You can read more about the general free kick rules here.