Question Number: 34254

Law 13 - Free Kicks 6/21/2021

RE: Rec Adult

James Pendarvis of HOLLYWOOD, MD - Maryland United States asks...

High Kick within the penalty area.

The defending team is in their penalty area and commits a High Kick infraction.

A normal high kick restart would be an in-direct free-kick. Does this change to a penalty kick when the infraction is within the 18 yrd box?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi James
Any IDFK offence on the field of play remains an IDFK no matter where the offence happens which includes the penalty area.
So the IDFK is taken from where the offence took place with the exception of inside the goal area in which case it is moved to he 6 yard line.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi James,
there is no high kick per say, it is called PIADM ( playing in a dangerous manner) where NO contact occurs but an opponent is disadvantaged because they have to avoid possible danger to themselves or to that opponent who placed themselves in an awkward position. As explained by my colleague the sanction for an INDFK infringement does not change due to the location inside the PA (penalty area) as would a DFK event. Just that the special circumstances within the goal area might alter the restart position slightly.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi James,
No, it would not change to being a penalty kick due to being inside the penalty area. Only direct free kicks are "upgraded" in this manner.

Now, you don't give a detailed description as to the exact nature of the high kick. So if for example, as ref Dawson alludes to, there were contact involved, then it would not be an indirect but a direct free kick (assuming the referee judged it to be a foul) and in that case it would be changed to a penalty as a DFK offense occurring inside the penalty area.

My esteemed colleague is also right to point out that there is no such offense as a "high kick." If for instance the player raises their boot high to play the ball but there is no opponent nearby then this is perfectly legal. It is only when a dangerous action is performed with an opponent close by who is adversely affected by this, that it becomes the offense of playing in a dangerous manner.