The Referees' Report

Laws of the Game

Laws 11 and 12 (the technical laws)

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

A direct free kick is awarded if any of the following are intentionally committed in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

• 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

Also if any player commits any of the following four offences:

• tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, but makes contact with the opponent before touching the ball
• spits at an opponent
• holds an opponent
• deliberately handles the ball except in the case of the goal keeper within his own penalty area

The free kick is taken from where the offence occurred. If any of the above offences are committed in the offending player's penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded.

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goal keeper commits any of the following offences inside his own penalty area:

• takes more than 6 seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession
• touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and it has not been touched or played by another player
• touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate
• touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate

Also if any player:

• plays in a dangerous manner
• impedes the progress of an opponent
• prevents a goal keeper from releasing the ball from his hands
• commits any other offence not previously mentioned in Law 12 for which play is stopped to caution or send off a player.

The indirect free kick is taken from where the offence occurred. If any of the above offences are committed in the offending player's penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded.

Law 8 reminder

A free kick awarded to the defending team inside its own goal area is taken from any point within the goal area.

An indirect free kick awarded to the attacking team in its opponents goal area is taken from the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the incident occurred.

Did you know?

A player who leans on the shoulders of a teammate to head the ball should be penalised by the award of an indirect free kick to the opposing team.

If the ball is in play and a defender punches an opponent inside his own penalty area, the referee would award a penalty kick. He would also order the defender from the field of play.

If a defender punches an opponent inside his own penalty area just before a corner kick is being taken, no penalty would be given since the ball is not in play. The defender would be sent off.

An indirect free kick can be awarded against a goal keeper who, in the opinion of the referee, deliberately wastes time.

Where two players of the same team begin fighting with each other, the game shall be stopped, both players sent off the field for violent conduct and the game restarted with an indirect free kick to the opposing team.

No action would be taken against a player who accidently handles the ball.

A player who spits at an opponent should be sent off.

previous: Law 11 next: Law 13