What is an indirect free kick inside the penalty area, and can you score from it?
An indirect free kick inside the penalty area — Italians call it a "rigore di seconda" — is awarded for a non-foul offence like offside or a goalkeeper handling a back-pass, not for a foul that would give a penalty. It cannot be scored directly: a second player must touch the ball before it counts as a goal.
- 1An indirect free kick is given for technical or non-contact offences (offside, dangerous play, a goalkeeper handling a deliberate back-pass or holding the ball too long), not for fouls punished by a penalty[2]
- 2A goal cannot be scored directly from an indirect free kick — another player must touch the ball first[1]
- 3The referee signals it by holding an arm straight up until a second player touches the ball or it goes out of play[1]
- 4When it is taken closer than 9.15 m (10 yds) to the goal, defenders may stand on their own goal line between the posts[1]
Most fouls in the box mean a penalty, but a special category of offences gives the attackers something rarer and stranger: a free kick from inside the area that can't be shot straight in.
What is an indirect free kick in the box?
It is a free kick awarded inside the penalty area that cannot be scored directly. The taker must play it to a teammate, who then shoots — so you'll see one player roll it sideways and another strike it. The referee keeps an arm raised to show a second touch is required.
When is it given instead of a penalty?
When the offence is technical rather than a foul. Classic cases: an attacker is offside, a player commits dangerous play (like a high boot), or the goalkeeper picks up a deliberate back-pass or holds the ball for more than the allowed time. None of these are penalty fouls, so the restart is an indirect free kick.
Can you score directly from it?
No. That is the whole point of "indirect" — the ball must touch a second player before it can count as a goal. If an indirect free kick goes straight into the net without anyone else touching it, no goal is given and the defending team gets a goal kick.
Why can defenders stand on the goal line?
Because an indirect free kick can be awarded only a few yards from goal, the normal 10-yard retreat would put defenders behind their own line. So the laws let them form a wall on the goal line between the posts, leading to the dramatic sight of nearly every defender packed across the goal.
There's no clean American equivalent, so this one rewards a quick mental model: think of it as a "must-touch-first" trick play awarded for a procedural violation rather than a hard foul. The defense crowding the goal line is a bit like a goal-line stand where the whole unit packs the end zone — except here the rules force the attacker to make an extra pass before anyone can score.
Key Takeaways
- An indirect free kick in the box is given for non-foul offences like offside or a goalkeeper back-pass, not for penalty fouls.
- It cannot be scored directly — a second player must touch the ball first — which is why defenders pack the goal line.
- IFAB — Law 13: Free Kicks(accessed 2026-06-17)
- IFAB — Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct(accessed 2026-06-17)