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Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
DIR By: Dazoctaron
Date: January 30, 2025, 5:10 pm
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FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
Direct and indirect free kicks and penalty kicks can only be
awarded for offences committed when the ball is in play.
1. Direct free kick
A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the
following offences against an opponent
in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless
or using excessive force:
charges
jumps at
kicks or attempts to kick
pushes
strikes or attempts to strike (including head-butt)
tackles or challenges
trips or attempts to trip
If an offence involves contact it is penalised by a direct free
kick or penalty kick.
Careless is when a player shows a lack of attention or
consideration when making a challenge or acts without
precaution. No disciplinary sanction is needed
Reckless is when a player acts with disregard to the danger to,
or consequences for, an opponent and must be cautioned
Using excessive force is when a player exceeds the necessary use
of force and endangers the safety of an opponent and must be
sent off
A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the
following offences:
a handball offence (except for the goalkeeper within their
penalty area)
holds an opponent
impedes an opponent with contact
bites or spits at someone on the team lists or a match official
throws an object at the ball, opponent or match official, or
makes contact with the ball with a held object
See also offences in Law 3
HANDLING THE BALL
For the purposes of determining handball offences, the upper
boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit.
Not every touch of a player’s hand/arm with the ball is an
offence.
It is an offence if a player:
deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example
moving the hand/arm towards the ball
touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body
unnaturally bigger.
A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally
bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a
consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement
for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such
a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit
by the ball and being penalised
scores in the opponents' goal:
directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by
the goalkeeper
immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if
accidental
The goalkeeper has the same restrictions on handling the ball as
any other player outside the penalty area.
If the goalkeeper handles the ball inside their penalty area
when not permitted to do so,
an indirect free kick is awarded but there is no disciplinary
sanction.
However, if the offence is playing the ball a second time (with
or without the hand/arm) after a restart before it touches
another player,
the goalkeeper must be sanctioned if the offence stops a
promising attack or denies an opponent
or the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring
opportunity.
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2. Indirect Free Kick
An indirect free kick is awarded if a player:
plays in a dangerous manner
impedes the progress of an opponent without any contact being
made
is guilty of dissent, using offensive, insulting or abusive
language and/or action(s) or other verbal offences
prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from the hands
or kicks or attempts to kick
the ball when the goalkeeper is in the process of releasing it
initiates a deliberate trick for the ball to be passed
(including from a free kick or goal kick) to the goalkeeper with
the head, chest, knee etc.
to circumvent the Law, whether or not the goalkeeper touches the
ball with the hands;
the goalkeeper is penalised if responsible for initiating the
deliberate trick
commits any other offence, not mentioned in the Laws, for which
play is stopped to caution or send off a player
An indirect free kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their
penalty area, commits any of the following offences:
controls the ball with the hand/arm for more than six seconds
before releasing it
touches the ball with the hand/arm after releasing it and before
it has touched another player
touches the ball with the hand/arm, unless the goalkeeper has
clearly kicked or attempted to kick the ball to release it into
play, after:
it has been deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a team-mate
receiving it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate
A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball with the
hand(s) when:
the ball is between the hands or between the hand and any
surface (e.g. ground, own body) or by touching it with any part
of the hands or arms except if the ball rebounds from the
goalkeeper or the goalkeeper has made a save
holding the ball in the outstretched open hand
bouncing it on the ground or throwing it in the air
A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control
of the ball with the hand(s).
PLAYING IN A DANGEROUS MANNER
Playing in a dangerous manner is any action that, while trying
to play the ball, threatens injury to someone (including the
player themself)
and includes preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball
for fear of injury.
A scissors or bicycle kick is permissible provided that it is
not dangerous to an opponent.
IMPEDING THE PROGRESS OF AN OPPONENT WITHOUT CONTACT
Impeding the progress of an opponent means moving into the
opponent’s path to obstruct, block, slow down or
force a change of direction when the ball is not within playing
distance of either player.
All players have a right to their position on the field of play;
being in the way of an opponent is not the same as moving into
the way of an opponent.
A player may shield the ball by taking a position between an
opponent and the ball if the ball is within playing distance
and the opponent is not held off with the arms or body.
If the ball is within playing distance, the player may be fairly
charged by an opponent.
3. Disciplinary action
The referee has the authority to take disciplinary action from
entering the field of play for the pre-match inspection
until leaving the field of play after the match ends (including
penalties (penalty shoot-out)).
If, before entering the field of play at the start of the match,
a player or team official commits a sending-off offence,
the referee has the authority to prevent the player or team
official taking part in the match (see Law 3.6);
the referee will report any other misconduct.
A player or team official who commits a cautionable or
sending-off offence, either on or off the field of play, against
an opponent, a team-mate,
a match official or any other person or the Laws of the Game, is
disciplined according to the offence.
The yellow card communicates a caution and the red card
communicates a sending-off.
Only a player, substitute or substituted player or team official
may be shown the red or yellow card.
Players, substitutes and substituted players
Delaying the restart of play to show a card
Once the referee has decided to caution or send off a player,
play must not be restarted until the sanction has been
administered,
unless the non-offending team takes a quick free kick, has a
clear goal-scoring opportunity and the referee has not started
the disciplinary sanction procedure.
The sanction is administered at the next stoppage;
if the offence was denying the opposing team an obvious
goal-scoring opportunity, the player is cautioned;
if the offence interfered with or stopped a promising attack,
the player is not cautioned.
Advantage
If the referee plays the advantage for an offence for which a
caution/sending-off would have been issued had play been
stopped,
this caution/sending-off must be issued when the ball is next
out of play.
However, if the offence was denying the opposing team an obvious
goal-scoring opportunity, the player is cautioned for unsporting
behaviour;
if the offence was interfering with or stopping a promising
attack, the player is not cautioned.
Advantage should not be applied in situations involving serious
foul play, violent conduct or a
second cautionable offence unless there is a clear opportunity
to score a goal.
The referee must send off the player when the ball is next out
of play but if the player plays the ball or
challenges/interferes
with an opponent, the referee will stop play, send off the
player and restart with an indirect free kick,
unless the player committed a more serious offence.
If a defender starts holding an attacker outside the penalty
area and continues holding inside the penalty area,
the referee must award a penalty kick.
CAUTIONABLE OFFENCES
A player is cautioned if guilty of:
delaying the restart of play
dissent by word or action
entering, re-entering or deliberately leaving the field of play
without the referee’s permission
failing to respect the required distance when play is restarted
with a dropped ball, corner kick, free kick or throw-in
persistent offences (no specific number or pattern of offences
constitutes “persistent”)
unsporting behaviour
entering the referee review area (RRA)
excessively using the 'review' (TV screen) signal
A substitute or substituted player is cautioned if guilty of:
delaying the restart of play
dissent by word or action
entering or re-entering the field of play without the referee’s
permission
unsporting behaviour
entering the referee review area (RRA)
excessively using the 'review' (TV screen) signal
Where two separate cautionable offences are committed (even in
close proximity), they should result in two cautions,
for example if a player enters the field of play without the
required permission and commits a reckless tackle
or stops a promising attack with a foul/handball, etc.
CAUTIONS FOR UNSPORTING BEHAVIOUR
There are different circumstances when a player must be
cautioned for unsporting behaviour including if a player:
attempts to deceive the referee e.g. by feigning injury or
pretending to have been fouled (simulation)
changes places with the goalkeeper during play or without the
referee’s permission (see Law 3)
commits in a reckless manner a direct free kick offence
handles the ball to interfere with or stop a promising attack,
except where the referee awards a
penalty kick for a non-deliberate handball offence
denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring
opportunity and the referee awards a
penalty kick for a non-deliberate handball offence
commits any other offence which interferes with or stops a
promising attack except where the referee awards a
penalty kick for an offence which was an attempt to play the
ball or for a challenge for the ball
denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by
committing an offence which was an attempt
to play the ball or challenge for the ball and the referee
awards a penalty kick
handles the ball in an attempt to score a goal (whether or not
the attempt is successful)
or in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent a goal
makes unauthorised marks on the field of play
plays the ball when leaving the field of play after being given
permission to leave
shows a lack of respect for the game
initiates a deliberate trick for the ball to be passed
(including from a free kick or goal kick) to the goalkeeper with
the head,
chest, knee etc. to circumvent the Law, whether or not the
goalkeeper touches the ball with the hands;
the goalkeeper is cautioned if responsible for initiating the
deliberate trick
verbally distracts an opponent during play or at a restart
CELEBRATION OF A GOAL
Players can celebrate when a goal is scored, but the celebration
must not be excessive;
choreographed celebrations are not encouraged and must not cause
excessive time-wasting.
Leaving the field of play to celebrate a goal is not a
cautionable offence but players should return as soon as
possible.
A player must be cautioned, even if the goal is disallowed, for:
climbing onto a perimeter fence and/or approaching the
spectators in a manner which causes safety and/or security
issues
gesturing or acting in a provocative, derisory or inflammatory
way
covering the head or face with a mask or other similar item
removing the shirt or covering the head with the shirt
DELAYING THE RESTART OF PLAY
Referees must caution players who delay the restart of play by:
appearing to take a throw-in but suddenly leaving it to a
team-mate to take
delaying leaving the field of play when being substituted
excessively delaying a restart
kicking or carrying the ball away, or provoking a confrontation
by deliberately touching the ball after the referee has stopped
play
taking a free kick from the wrong position to force a retake
SENDING-OFF OFFENCES
A player, substitute or substituted player who commits any of
the following offences is sent off:
denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring
opportunity by committing a deliberate
handball offence (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area)
denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring
opportunity by committing a non-deliberate
handball offence outside their own penalty area
denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an
opponent whose overall movement is towards
the offender's goal by an offence punishable by a free kick
(unless as outlined below)
serious foul play
biting or spitting at someone
violent conduct
using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or action(s)
receiving a second caution in the same match
entering the video operation room (VOR)
A player, substitute or substituted player who has been sent off
must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical
area.
DENYING A GOAL OR AN OBVIOUS GOAL-SCORING OPPORTUNITY (DOGSO)
Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within
their own penalty area which denies an opponent
an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a
penalty kick,
the offender is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play
the ball or a challenge for the ball;
in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no
possibility to play the ball etc.), the offending player must be
sent off.
Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious
goal-scoring opportunity by committing a deliberate
handball offence, the player is sent off wherever the offence
occurs (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area).
Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious
goal-scoring opportunity by committing a non-deliberate
handball offence and the referee awards a penalty kick, the
offender is cautioned.
A player, sent-off player, substitute or substituted player who
enters the field of play without the required referee's
permission and interferes with play or an opponent and denies
the opposing team a goal or an obvious
goal-scoring opportunity is guilty of a sending-off offence.
The following must be considered:
distance between the offence and the goal
general direction of the play
likelihood of keeping or gaining control of the ball
location and number of defenders
SERIOUS FOUL PLAY
A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent
or uses excessive force or brutality must be sanctioned as
serious foul play.
Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball
from the front, from the side or from behind
using one or both legs, with excessive force or endangers the
safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.
VIOLENT CONDUCT
Violent conduct is when a player uses or attempts to use
excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not
challenging for the ball, or against a team-mate, team official,
match official, spectator or any other person,
regardless of whether contact is made.
In addition, a player who, when not challenging for the ball,
deliberately strikes an opponent or any other person
on the head or face with the hand or arm, is guilty of violent
conduct unless the force used was negligible.
Team Officials
Where an offence is committed by someone from the technical area
(substitute, substituted player, sent-off player or team
official)
and the offender cannot be identified, the senior team coach
present in the technical area will receive the sanction.
WARNING
The following offences should usually result in a warning;
repeated or blatant offences should result in a caution or
sending-off:
entering the field of play in a respectful/non-confrontational
manner
failing to cooperate with a match official e.g. ignoring an
instruction/request from an assistant referee or the fourth
official
minor/low-level disagreement (by word or action) with a decision
occasionally leaving the confines of the technical area without
committing another offence
CAUTION
Caution offences include (but are not limited to):
clearly/persistently not respecting the confines of their team’s
technical area
delaying the restart of play by their team
deliberately entering the technical area of the opposing team
(non-confrontational)
dissent by word or action including:
throwing/kicking drinks bottles or other objects
action(s) which show(s) a clear lack of respect for the match
official(s) e.g.sarcastic clapping
entering the referee review area (RRA)
excessively/persistently gesturing for a red or yellow card
excessively showing the TV signal for a VAR ‘review’
gesturing or acting in a provocative or inflammatory manner
persistent unacceptable behaviour (including repeated warning
offences)
showing a lack of respect for the game
SENDING OFF
Sending-off offences include (but are not limited to):
delaying the restart of play by the opposing team e.g. holding
onto the ball, kicking the ball away,
obstructing the movement of a player
deliberately leaving the technical area to:
show dissent towards, or remonstrate with, a match official
act in a provocative or inflammatory manner
enter the opposing technical area in an aggressive or
confrontational manner
deliberately throwing/kicking an object onto the field of play
entering the field of play to:
confront a match official (including at half-time and full-time)
interfere with play, an opposing player or a match official
entering the video operation room (VOR)
physical or aggressive behaviour (including spitting or biting)
towards an opposing player, substitute,
team official, match official, spectator or any
other person (e.g. ball boy/girl, security or competition
official etc.)
receiving a second caution in the same match
using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or action(s)
using unauthorised electronic or communication equipment and/or
behaving in an inappropriate manner
as a result of using electronic or communication equipment
violent conduct
OFFENCES WHERE AN OBJECT (OR THE BALL) IS THROWN
In all cases, the referee takes the appropriate disciplinary
action:
reckless – caution the offender for unsporting behaviour
using excessive force – send off the offender for violent
conduct.
4. Restart of play after fouls and misconduct
If the ball is out of play, play is restarted according to the
previous decision
If the ball is in play and a player commits a physical offence
inside the field of play against:
an opponent – indirect or direct free kick or penalty kick
a team-mate, substitute, substituted or sent-off player, team
official or a match official – a direct free kick or penalty
kick
All verbal offences are penalised with an indirect free kick.
If the referee stops play for an offence committed by a player,
inside or outside the field of play, against an outside agent,
play is restarted with a dropped ball, unless an indirect free
kick is awarded for leaving the field of play without the
referee's permission;
the indirect free kick is taken from the point on the boundary
line where the player left the field of play.
If, when the ball is in play:
a player commits an offence against a match official or an
opposing player,
substitute, substituted or sent-off player, or team official
outside the field of play or
a substitute, substituted or sent-off player, or team official
commits an offence against,
or interferes with, an opposing player or a match official
outside the field of play,
play is restarted with a free kick on the boundary line nearest
to where the offence/interference occurred;
for direct free kick offences, a penalty kick is awarded if this
is a direct free kick offence within the offender's penalty area
If an offence is committed outside the field of play by a player
against a player, substitute, substituted player or team
official of their own team,
play is restarted with an indirect free kick on the boundary
line closest to where the offence occurred.
If a player makes contact with the ball with an object (boot,
shinguard etc.) held in the hand play is restarted with a direct
free kick (or penalty kick).
If a player who is on or off the field of play throws or kicks
an object (other than the match ball) at an opposing player, or
throws or kicks
an object (including a ball) at an opposing substitute,
substituted or sent-off player, team official, or a match
official or the match ball,
play is restarted with a direct free kick from the position
where the object struck or would have struck the person or the
ball.
If this position is off the field of play, the free kick is
taken on the nearest point on the boundary line;
a penalty kick is awarded if this is within the offender’s
penalty area.
If a substitute, substituted or sent-off player, player
temporarily off the field of play or team official throws or
kicks an object
onto the field of play and it interferes with play, an opponent
or match official, play is restarted with a direct free kick (or
penalty kick)
where the object interfered with play or struck or would have
struck the opponent, match official or the ball.
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