Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Free Kick Offences (Law 12, Section 1). A free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following against an opponent carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force: charging, jumping at, kicking or attempting to kick, pushing, striking or attempting to strike (including head-butting), tackling or challenging, or tripping. A free kick is also awarded for a handball offence, holding an opponent, unlawfully preventing a scissors/overhead kick, impeding with contact, biting, spitting at or deliberately throwing sand at anyone, or throwing/kicking an object at the ball, an opponent or a match official.
No Wall (Law 13, Sections 1-2). There are two types of free kick — one taken in the opposing team's half, one taken from the kicking team's own half or the centre of the pitch. Critically, players may not form a wall. The kick must be taken within four seconds of the referee's signal, clearly shown by the referee's four-second count.
Positioning at Free Kicks (Law 13, Section 3). For a free kick taken in the team's own half or from the centre of the pitch, every opposing player must be on the pitch and at least 5m from the ball until it is in play. For a free kick in the opposing team's half, the same 5m minimum distance applies to defending players.
Cautionable Offences (Law 12, Section 4). A player is cautioned (yellow card) for offences including delaying the restart of play, dissent by word or action, entering/leaving the pitch without permission, failing to respect the required distance at a restart, persistent offences, and unsporting behaviour (including simulation, reckless free-kick offences, and unauthorised marks on the pitch).
Sending-Off Offences (Law 12, Section 4). A player or substitute is sent off (red card) for: denying a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity (DOGSO) by handball or by an offence punishable by free kick/penalty kick; serious foul play; biting, spitting at or deliberately throwing sand at someone; violent conduct; using offensive, insulting or abusive language or action(s); or receiving a second caution in the same match. Serious foul play is a tackle or challenge that endangers an opponent's safety or uses excessive force or brutality.
The Penalty Kick (Law 14, Section 1). A penalty kick is awarded for a free-kick offence committed by a player inside their own penalty area. The ball is placed on the imaginary penalty mark; the defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the posts, until the ball is kicked, and must have at least part of one foot on or behind the goal line at the moment of the kick. All other players must be at least 5m from the penalty mark and outside the penalty area. The kick must be taken forwards (back-heeling is permitted provided the ball moves forward); the kicker may not play the ball again until it has touched another player.