Law 13·restarts

Free Kick & Defensive Wall

For a direct or indirect free kick, opponents must be at least 10 yards from the ball. A defensive wall with three or more players must have all attacking players stay out of it until the ball is in play.

The full rule

Free kicks are either direct — from which a goal can be scored directly — or indirect, which requires another player to touch the ball first. Opponents must be 10 yards (9.15 metres) from the ball. If a wall is formed with three or more defenders, no attacking player may be in the wall until the ball is in play — standing in the wall to cause disruption was banned by IFAB in 2019. The kick must be taken from the correct spot; moving the ball to a more advantageous position is an offence. The kicker cannot touch the ball again until another player has.

Key points

✓Opponents must be 10 yards from the ball before the kick
✓Direct free kick: goal can be scored directly
✓Indirect free kick: another player must touch it first
✓Attackers cannot stand in a defensive wall of three or more
✓The kicker cannot play the ball a second time before another player

Scenarios

Attacker stands in the defensive wall

An attacker positions themselves inside the defensive wall of four players before the free kick is taken.

Correct call: The referee orders the attacker to leave the wall. If the kick is taken before they leave and it goes in, the goal stands — but the attacker should be cautioned.

Common mistake: Allowing attackers to remain in the wall because it used to be legal. IFAB changed this rule in 2019.

Verdict:foul

Indirect free kick goes straight into goal

A player takes an indirect free kick that goes directly into the net without touching anyone else.

Correct call: Goal kick. A goal cannot be scored from an indirect free kick without another player touching the ball.

Common mistake: Awarding a goal because the ball crossed the line. The indirect nature of the kick overrides the result.

Verdict:no-goal