indirect free kick
C1Technical/Sport
Definition
Meaning
In football (soccer), a type of free kick from which a goal cannot be scored directly; the ball must touch another player before entering the goal to count.
A set-piece restart awarded for less serious infringements (like offside, dangerous play, impeding an opponent) where a direct shot at goal is not permitted.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Used exclusively in the context of association football (soccer) laws. It contrasts with a 'direct free kick'. Often signaled by the referee raising an arm vertically until the kick is taken.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical. The sport is more commonly called 'football' in British English and 'soccer' in American English.
Connotations
Neutral technical term in both varieties.
Frequency
High frequency in UK sports discourse; lower but specific frequency in US sports discourse, primarily within soccer/football contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Team/Referee] awards [Team] an indirect free kick for [infraction].[Player] takes the indirect free kick from [location].[Team] scored from an indirect free kick after [Player] touched it.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's not a penalty, it's just an indirect free kick.”
- “They had to take it quick from the indirect.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not applicable.
Academic
Used in sports science, law of the game analysis.
Everyday
Used in football match commentary, discussions among fans, coaching.
Technical
Precise term within the IFAB Laws of the Game.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The referee indirect-freekicked the offence inside the box. (Rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The indirect-free-kick rule was correctly applied.
American English
- The indirect free-kick situation was complex.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The referee gave an indirect free kick.
- The goalkeeper handled a back-pass, so the other team got an indirect free kick inside the penalty area.
- They cleverly worked a short indirect free kick, allowing the midfielder to score with a first-time shot.
- Controversy ensued when the referee failed to award an indirect free kick for a clear case of dangerous play, deeming the high foot merely reckless.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
INDIRECT means the goal is not DIRECT. Think: In-Direct = In-Direct line to goal is blocked; must go via another player.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SECOND-CHANCE shot (must involve a teammate).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid literal translation. The established Russian term is 'свободный удар' or 'штрафной удар' for direct, and 'свободный удар (непрямой)' or specifically 'непрямой штрафной удар' for indirect.
Common Mistakes
- Saying 'indirect penalty kick' (a contradiction).
- Thinking a goal can be scored directly from it.
- Confusing the referee's arm signal with that for advantage.
Practice
Quiz
From which of these can a goal be scored directly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Offences like playing in a dangerous manner, impeding an opponent (obstruction), preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball, and certain goalkeeper offences (e.g., holding the ball for more than 6 seconds, handling a deliberate back-pass).
The referee raises one arm vertically above their head and maintains this signal until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player, goes out of play, or it is clear a goal cannot be scored directly.
No. If the ball goes directly into the kicker's own goal from an indirect free kick, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.
From the place where the offence occurred, unless it is awarded to the attacking team inside the opposing goal area, in which case it is taken from the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the offence happened.