Soccer Rules Practice Exam

A direct free kick is awarded for serious fouls committed by players, and this specifically includes actions such as holding, pushing, or striking another player. These types of fouls are considered to violate the principle of fair play and pose a greater risk to the safety and integrity of the game, thereby justifying the awarding of a direct free kick to the opposing team.

In contrast, minor fouls like offside do not result in a direct free kick; rather, they lead to an indirect free kick or a different type of restart. Accidental handballs typically result in an indirect free kick unless the handball denies a goal or clear goal-scoring opportunity. Additionally, when the ball is out of bounds, the method of restart would be a throw-in, goal kick, or corner kick, depending on the situation, rather than a direct free kick. This makes the circumstances that justify a direct free kick very specific to significant fouls that directly impede the opposing players’ ability to play the ball.