Fouls
and misconduct are penalised as follows:
Direct free kick
A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing
team if a player commits any of the following
six offences 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
A direct free kick is also awarded
to the opposing team if a player commits any
of the following four offences:
" tackles an opponent to gain possession
of the ball, making contact with the opponent
before touching the ball
" holds an opponent
" spits at an opponent
" handles the ball deliberately (except
for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
A direct free kick is taken from where the
offence occurred.
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is awarded if any of the above
ten offences is committed by a player inside
his own penalty area, irrespective of the position
of the ball, provided it is in play.
Indirect free kick
An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing
team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty
area, commits any of the following five offences:
" takes more than six 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 has not touched any other player
" touches the ball with his hands after
it has been deliberately been 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
An indirect free kick is also awarded
to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion
of the referee:
" plays in a dangerous manner
" impedes the progress of an opponent
" prevents the goalkeeper 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 dismiss a player
The indirect free kick is taken from where the
offence occurred.
Disciplinary sanctions
Only a player or substitute or substituted player
may be shown the red or yellow card.
Cautionable offences
A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card
if he commits any of the following seven offences:
1. is guilty of unsporting behaviour
2. shows dissent by word or
action
3. persistently infringes the
Laws of the Game
4. delays the restart of play
5. fails to respect the required
distance when play is restarted with a corner
kick or free kick
6. enters or re-enters the
field of play without the referees permission
7. deliberately leaves the
field of play without the referees permission
Sending-off offences
A player is sent off and shown the red card
if he commits any of the following seven offences:
1. is guilty of serious foul
play
2. is guilty of violent conduct
3. spits at an opponent or
any other person
4. denies the opposing team
a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity
by deliberately handling the ball (this does
not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty
area)
5. denies an obvious goal-scoring
opportunity to an opponent moving towards the
players goal by an offence punishable by a free
kick or a penalty kick
6. uses offensive or insulting
or abusive language and/or gestures
7. receives a second caution
in the same match
A player who has been
sent off must leave the vicinity of the field
of play and the technical area.
Decisions of the International F.A.
Board
Decision 1
A player who commits a cautionable or sending-off
offence, either on or off the field of play,
whether directed towards an opponent, a team-mate,
the referee, an assistant referee or any other
person, is disciplined according to the nature
of the offence committed.
Decision 2
The goalkeeper is considered to be in control
of the ball by touching it with any part of
his hand or arms. Possession of the ball includes
the goalkeeper deliberately parrying the ball,
but does not include the circumstances where,
in the opinion of the referee, the ball rebounds
accidentally from the goalkeeper, for example
after he has made a save.
Decision 3
Subject to the terms of Law 12, a player may
pass the ball to his own goalkeeper using his
head or chest or knee, etc. If, however, in
the opinion of the referee, a player uses a
deliberate trick while the ball is in play in
order to circumvent the Law, the player is guilty
of unsporting behaviour. He is cautioned, shown
the yellow card and an indirect free kick is
awarded to the opposing team from the place
where the infringement occurred.
A player using a deliberate trick to circumvent
the Law while he is taking a free kick, is cautioned
for unsporting behaviour and shown the yellow
card. The free kick is retaken.
In such circumstances, it is irrelevant whether
the goalkeeper subsequently touches the ball
with his hands or not. The offence is committed
by the player in attempting to circumvent both
the letter and the spirit of Law 12.
Decision 4
A tackle from behind, which endangers the safety
of an opponent, must be sanctioned as serious
foul play.
Decision 5
Any simulating action anywhere on the field,
which is intended to deceive the referee, must
be sanctioned as unsporting behaviour.
