Direct Kick in the penalty area

[sokol]

Is there any scenario at all in which it is possible to award a DIRECT free kick inside the penalty area to the team attacking the near goal? I ask because today I saw a ref award a direct free kick (initially, the team he awarded it to thought it was an indirect kick, so they set up that way when the ref told them it was direct. The opposing team protested and the ref insisted that it was a direct kick and that he knew what he was doing). The foul was a clear handball, clearly inside the box but it happened as the ball was moving away from the goal. So is this legit or was this ref wrong? Luckily it didn't result in a goal but it was close. My guess is that he was completely wrong because 1. it just doesn't make any sense, 2. the ref throughout the game seemed to show a lot of inexperience, such as letting the first half run about 8 minutes long and also he never would look at his linesman on a posible offsides play. Every time he would have to be told several minutes later that the linesman has his flag up.

So, was this a correct call, or is there any kind of situation in which this is possible?

[JayJay4Pres]

It sounds like it should of been a penalty...

But there may be a competition rule that says it would be a DFK, but I have no idea why. Should either be PK or IFK from inside the box.

[Statesman]

ODP is the only organization I know of that does not use PKs (or at least, used to not, it's been awhile). Under the LOTG any attacking DFK awarded in the penalty area should be a PK, no matter the circumstance.

[sokol]

Thank you. It seemed pretty unbelievable but since I'm not a ref, just a long-time player, I wondered if there wasn't some loophole or specific situation in which this could be possible.

[blech]

*** Luckily it didn't result in a goal but it was close. ***

given that it should have been a pk, this is probably an understatement (and indicates you are probably with the defending team).

from the ref perspective, i always hope when i screw up that the right result happens anyway, i.e., in this case they score on the direct kick even though they didn't get the pk :) seldom happens, but hopefully that's because i'm avoiding these kinds of mistakes in the first instance :)

[sokol]

given that it should have been a pk, this is probably an understatement (and indicates you are probably with the defending team).


Actually I was pretty neutral. I was involved in the next game on the field and was just watching. The reason I said luckily is because it didn't seem like a penalty to me. I thought it should have been an indirect free kick. It happened as ball was bouncing just a few yards inside the corner of the box, and the attacking player was running from inside the box heading towards the sideline and even a little bit backwards, trying to beat the defender there and just gain control of the ball. He beat him and tried to juggle the ball over the defenders head but sort of mis-hit it right into the defenders arm (which was completely extended sideways.) It was in no way an intentional handball but it's hard not to call something when the defender runs at an attacker with his arms spread wide open. I know I have seen indirect kicks given in similar situations before. Maybe that's wrong too. Is any handball in the box a penalty? I know it's not a penalty if the keeper picks up a pass from his own player. Is that the only exception?

[njref]

"Is any handball in the box a penalty [shot]?"

Yes if deliberate and by the defense.

"I know it's not a penalty if the keeper picks up a pass from his own player. Is that the only exception?"

The keeper is allowed to use his hands, so it isn't a handball, the common terminology is to call it a "passback to the GK."

[macheath]

"Is any handball in the box a penalty [shot]?"

Yes if deliberate and by the defense.

"I know it's not a penalty if the keeper picks up a pass from his own player. Is that the only exception?"

The keeper is allowed to use his hands, so it isn't a handball, the common terminology is to call it a "passback to the GK."

Yup. This confuses people about keepers, but NJREF has it right--that isn't handling. Its a modification to the general rule that the keeper can use her hands in the area. Other modifications to that rule include not being able to use the hands on a throw-in that comes directly from a teammate, but that isn't handling either. Just because the hands are involved isn't the issue--its how the keeper receives the ball, and these restrictions are intended to keep the game moving, and not have a constant stream of passes back to keepers who then pick them up, as it used to be.

Basically, a foul against the attacking team that would lead to a direct kick outside of the area is a PK if committed within the area. There aren't direct kicks by one team in the other's area unless its a PK. There's no provision for calling handling as an IFK foul because it didn't seem "intentional." Its either a foul, on the criteria described by NJREF, or it isn't.

[jacathcart]

Actually . The reason I said luckily is because it didn't seem like a penalty to me. I thought it should have been an indirect free kick. It happened as ball was bouncing just a few yards inside the corner of the box, and the attacking player was running from inside the box heading towards the sideline and even a little bit backwards, trying to beat the defender there and just gain control of the ball. He beat him and tried to juggle the ball over the defenders head but sort of mis-hit it right into the defenders arm (which was completely extended sideways.)

Except once he blows the whistle for handling it MUST be a DFK. The referee can't give an IFK on the grounds that "it wasn't THAT bad a foul". Either the offense is trifling and not whistled or it is a DFK.

Jim

[PirateJohn]

Actually, there is a case in which you can, indeed, have a DFK in the penalty area. Can anybody guess what that case is?

[ctsoccer13]

If it's the defense taking the kick then it can be a direct free kick in the area.

[PirateJohn]

If it's the defense taking the kick then it can be a direct free kick in the area.Well Done :D