Direct free kick
A direct free kick is a method of restarting play in a game of association football (soccer) following a foul. Unlike an indirect free kick, a goal may be scored directly against the opposing side without the ball having first touched another player.
Award
A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team when a player commits a penal foul, for example pushing or tripping an opponent. However, if the offence was committed within the fouling team's penalty area, the kick becomes a penalty kick.
Procedure
The kick is taken from where the foul occurred, unless that was within the fouled team's goal area, in which case it may be taken from anywhere within the goal area. The ball should be stationary prior to being kicked. Opponents must remain 10 yards (9.15 m) from the ball (and also outside of the penalty area if the kick is taken from within the penalty area) until the ball is in play.
The ball becomes in play as soon as it is kicked and moves, unless the kick was taken from within the kicking team's penalty area, in which case it is in play once it has passed directly beyond the penalty area.
A goal may be scored directly from a direct free kick, but only against the opposing side (i.e. an own goal may not be scored). A player may be penalised for an offside offence direct from a direct free kick.
Infringements
Opposing players must retire the required distance as stated above. Failure to do so may constitute misconduct and be punished by a caution (yellow card).
It is an offence for the kicker to touch the ball a second time until it has been touched by another player; this is punishable by an indirect free kick to the defending team from where the offence occurred, unless the second touch was also a more serious handling offence, in which case it is punishable by a direct free kick or penalty kick, as appropriate.
Strategy
Most teams have one or two designated free kick takers, depending on the distance from goal and the side of the field the free kick is to be taken from. The strategy may be to score a goal directly from the free kick, or to use the free kick as the beginning of a set play leading towards a goal scoring opportunity.
Famous Free Kick Specialists
Amongst today's football players, the following ones are potent to score from free kicks and therefore considered as free kick specialists:
- Juninho Pernambucano
- Pierre van Hooijdonk
- Assunçao
- David Beckham
- Rogerio Ceni
- Andrea Pirlo
- Alex
- Roberto Carlos
- Zinedine Zidane
- Ronaldinho
- Hakan Yakin
- Rafael Van der Vaart
Legendary football players who was a free kick specialist include: