Fouls and punishments are some of the most talked about parts of any football match. Knowing how they work makes every refereeing decision easier to follow.
What is a foul?
A foul happens when a player commits an offence against an opponent, usually by kicking, tripping, pushing or holding them in a careless, reckless or excessive way. Handling the ball deliberately is also a foul, except for the goalkeeper in their own penalty area.
Free kicks
When a foul is committed, the other team is awarded a free kick. There are two kinds. A direct free kick can be shot straight at goal. An indirect free kick must touch another player before a goal can be scored.
Penalties
If a defending player commits a direct free kick foul inside their own penalty area, the attacking team is awarded a penalty kick. The ball is placed on the penalty spot, and only the kicker and the goalkeeper are involved. All other players wait outside the area. The goalkeeper must stay on the line until the ball is kicked.
Yellow cards
A yellow card is a caution. A referee shows one for offences such as reckless challenges, time wasting or dissent. It is a warning that the player must behave more carefully.
Red cards
A red card means a player is sent off and cannot be replaced, so the team plays with fewer players. A red card is shown for serious foul play, violent conduct, or denying the opposition an obvious goal-scoring chance by a foul. Receiving a second yellow card in the same match also results in a red.
Advantage
Sometimes a referee will let play continue after a foul if the team that was fouled still has a promising attack. This is called playing advantage. If the attack does not work out, the referee can still go back and award the free kick.
Suspensions
In many competitions, a player who collects a certain number of yellow cards will miss the next match. A red card usually brings a suspension of one or more matches, depending on the offence.
VAR
Many competitions use video assistant referees to review key decisions, including penalties and red cards. The video official can advise the referee, who may look at the incident on a pitchside screen.
Understanding these rules makes it easier to follow a match, and to appreciate how much a single decision can change the result.