Free kick
A team is punished by the referee with a free kick for the opposing team during a soccer game if a player on the team has committed a foul , unsportsmanlike conduct or another rule violation, unless the rules provide for a different continuation of the game ( penalty kick , in individual cases also a referee's ball ). This also applies to certain rule violations by club officials, for example unauthorized entry of the pitch with game interference. The referee should refrain from imposing the free kick if, in his opinion, this will result in an advantage for the team actually entitled to free kicks. If the expected advantage does not occur within a few seconds (the general consensus is a period of three seconds) and if no new game situation has arisen (e.g. ball outside the field of play), a "delayed whistle" must be issued. The free kick is counted among the standard situations in football.
Depending on the type of rule violation, the referee decides on a direct or indirect free kick. From a direct may , unlike an indirect free kick without the ball touches a goal be achieved by another player.
history
The free kick was introduced along with the corner kick in the Sheffield Code in 1866 . In 1904, FIFA introduced the direct free kick. Since 1913, the free kick distance to the wall must be at least 10 yards (9.15 m).
Preparation and execution
Before the free kick is taken, the ball must be still on the ground, that is, the free kick is taken with a stationary ball . All players in the defending team must withdraw themselves to a distance of at least 9.15 m from the ball or be on their own goal line between the posts. The ball is back in play as soon as it has been kicked and moved by the executing player. The player who takes the free kick may only touch the ball again after it has been touched by another player, otherwise there is an indirect free kick for the opposing team.
In principle, a free kick may be taken immediately - quickly -, the referee does not have to wait for an explicit game release, and the player taking the game does not have to wait until all opposing players have taken the prescribed distance. This does not apply in the following cases, but here the referee should inform the shooter that the ball is blocked:
- Warning or expulsion for one or more players during the game interruption
- Since the rule change in summer 2019, however, a free kick that is taken before the referee can block the ball and from which at least one promising attack results, should not be whistled in order to pronounce personal penalties and then repeat the free kick. In this exceptional case, the personal penalty (expulsion or warning) can be pronounced during the next game interruption.
- Substitution of one or more players during the interruption of play
- Treatment of one or more injured players on the pitch
- The referee places the wall at the prescribed distance of 9.15 meters
- For tactical reasons (e.g. to calm the mind) the referee does not want to allow an immediate execution (this is not explicitly intended for the free kick, but results from the general authorization for the referee to be able to interrupt the game at any time)
If a player takes the free kick in one of these situations before the referee clears the game ( whistle ), this player must be warned with a yellow card , but the free kick must be repeated.
Wall
In a free kick, players of the defending team often line up in order to block a direct shot at their own goal. This is known as a wall or a free kick wall . The referee should only establish or correct the prescribed distance of 9.15 m from the wall to the place of the free kick if the team taking the free kick (usually the designated shooter) so requests (otherwise the principle of the possibility of fast resumption of play takes precedence) or an immediate continuation of the game without approval by a whistle is not permitted.
The closer to one's own goal the opponent's free kick is taken, the more players usually participate in the wall. If the wall consists of at least three defending players, opposing players may approach the wall within a maximum of one meter. In the event of a violation of the distance requirement, an indirect free kick must be awarded to the team against which the original free kick was awarded.
In South and North America in particular, it has been customary for a number of years for the referees to mark the location of the free kick and the distance from the wall with a white foam spray, the free kick spray which disappears after a while . In autumn 2014 the spray was also introduced in the German federal leagues.
Since summer 2019, players on the team taking the free kick have been required to keep a minimum distance of one meter from the wall. If this distance is not reached, an indirect free kick for the opposing team is to be decided. This rule only takes effect when the wall consists of at least three players.
Direct free kick
A direct free kick can be converted directly into the opposing goal by the kicker without touching another player. A direct free kick is only given in the case of foul play or illegal handball if this offense occurs outside the penalty area of the team breaking the rule. If a rule violation, for which a direct free kick could be recognized, takes place within the penalty area of the violating team, a penalty kick (" penalty kick ") is to be decided instead .
The referee decides on a direct free kick in the following cases:
- Kicking or Trying
- Hit or try
- Trying or Trying
- Spitting (throwing) the opponent or attempting
- Start an engine
- Jostling
- Bump
- deliberate handball
- Harass
- Hold
In addition, the following requirements must be met: The offense must occur on the opponent (exception: handball), it must occur during the game, the ball must be in play and an intention (dangerous, reckless, negligent or disproportionate physical use) must be recognizable .
Indirect free kick
The indirect free kick is signaled by the referee with an arm extended vertically above the head. A goal can only be scored if, after taking the free kick, i.e. the first movement of the ball, another player touches the ball before it lands in the goal. The referee may only lower his arm again when the ball has been touched by another player or is no longer in play (another violation of the rules by a team or the ball leaves the field of play); as soon as it is certain that no goal will be scored from the free kick, the referee should lower his arm beforehand. If the ball goes "directly" into the goal in an indirect free kick, the goal is invalid; the game then continues with a goal kick for the defending team. The indirect free kick can also be given for rule violations committed inside the penalty area; then there is no penalty.
Reasons for an indirect free kick include:
- Offside
- Violation of the return pass rule
- "Dangerous game" without touching the opponent (e.g. running into the opponent with a stretched leg)
- Obstruction of the opponent's course ("blocking"), as long as there is no fighting for the ball
- Obstruction of the goalkeeper who wants to release the ball from his hand, regardless of the type
- twice playing the ball by the same player without contact with the ball by another player when the game is restarted
- Faking an offense (" swallow ")
- Unsportsmanlike conduct such as insulting opposing players or the referee
If the free kick has to be taken inside the opponent's goal area, it will be taken at the point on the goal-area line that runs parallel to the goal line and is closest to the place of the foul. If the free kick is taken less than 15 feet from the goal line, the opposing players may still stand on the goal line.
Other provisions
If the referee awards a team a free kick, the opposing players must release the ball immediately in order to enable the free kick to be taken quickly. They are also obliged to keep the prescribed distance of their own accord. If a player of the defending team blocks the ball in this attempt, the referee will issue a warning against him. The team that is allowed to take the free kick can ask the referee to force the opposing players to keep the distance, whereupon the game must be released with a whistle before the free kick can be taken by the referee.
The free kick is repeated if an opponent is closer than 9.15 m to the ball during the execution, despite the referee's request to keep the distance. However, this is irrelevant if the free kick is taken quickly, the opposing players were about to take the distance and are not actively trying to get the ball if the distance is not yet maintained.
If the kicker directly touches the ball again after it has been taken, before it has been touched by another player, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team.
If the ball goes directly into a goal after a free kick, this only counts as a goal success in the case of a direct free kick into the opposing goal. In all four of the following cases, the opposing team then takes the kick-off, kick-off or corner kick:
Direct free kick
- Ball goes directly into the opposing goal: Goal - Kick off by the opposing team
- Ball goes straight into its own goal: corner kick for the opposing team
Indirect free kick
- Ball goes directly into the opposing goal: goal kick for the opposing team
- Ball goes straight into its own goal: corner kick for the opposing team
For free kicks (as opposed to penalty kicks), the playing time may not need to be extended. If half-time has been reached, the referee is allowed to blow the half-time or final whistle.
Individual evidence
- ↑ From handball to penalty kick: These are the new rules. Retrieved July 19, 2019 .
- ↑ wz-newsline.de: Free-kick spray: Shaving foam on the football field
