Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct Explained
Law 12 is one of the most detailed laws, covering direct and indirect free kick offences, handball, the criteria for cautionable and sending-off offences, DOGSO, SPA, and the procedures for dealing with misconduct.
Key Points
- 1Ten direct free kick offences include: kicking, tripping, jumping at, charging, striking, pushing, tackling, holding, and spitting.
- 2Handball is an offence if the player deliberately touches the ball with the hand or arm, or the hand or arm has made their body unnaturally bigger, or they score directly off the hand or arm even accidentally. Any one of the three is enough.
- 3Yellow cards: cautionable offences include unsporting behaviour, dissent, persistent infringement, and delaying restart.
- 4Red cards: sending-off offences include serious foul play, violent conduct, DOGSO, and a second caution.
- 5DOGSO inside the penalty area with a genuine attempt to play the ball results in a yellow card, not a red.
- 6If the referee plays advantage after a DOGSO offence and a goal is scored from it, there is no caution for the DOGSO.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a direct and indirect free kick?
A direct free kick is awarded for the ten main physical offences (kicking, pushing, handball, etc.) and a goal can be scored directly. An indirect free kick is awarded for less serious offences (dangerous play, obstruction, goalkeeper handling violations) and requires another player to touch the ball before a goal can be scored.
What is the handball law in football?
Not every contact between the ball and the hand or arm is an offence. It is an offence if the player deliberately touches the ball with the hand or arm, for example by moving it towards the ball; or if the hand or arm has made the body unnaturally bigger, meaning its position is not justifiable by the body movement for that specific situation; or if the player scores in the opponents' goal directly off the hand or arm, or immediately after the ball has touched it, even accidentally. The three tests are independent, so any one of them is enough. For handball, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit.
What are the cautionable offences under Law 12?
A player is cautioned (yellow card) for: unsporting behaviour, dissent by word or action, persistent infringement of the Laws, delaying restart, failing to respect the required distance at free kicks or corners, entering or leaving the pitch without permission, and deliberately leaving the field to celebrate.
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