Question Number: 22896

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/4/2010

RE: School Under 16

Darren of Boksburg, Gauteng South Africa asks...

If there is a high boot in the box. Is it a penalty or an indirect free kick?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

It may be neither.

If you end up kicking someone with the foot, it's a direct free kick foul or a penalty kick if done inside your own penalty area.

If it's playing in a dangerous manner, it's an indirect free kick. However for that to apply, there are more conditions than simply a foot in the air. The action must be dangerous to someone (either the player doing it or an opponent, we presume opponent in this case), that opponent must be close enough so that it is a danger, and the opponent must pull back from play to avoid being injured. In youth play we are often more proactive and call it without that last provision, because the youth don't know enough to avoid the injury.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

If the referee determines that a player has committed the foul of play in a dangerous manner, the restart is always an indirect free kick. 'High boot' is not always a foul.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Darren
Playing in a dangerous manner is an indirect free kick.
If there is contact with an opponent while playing in a dangerous manner then it is a direct free kick or a penalty if the offence happens inside the PA.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

It's neither as there is no foul called 'high boot' or 'high kick'.
There IS,however, An indirect Free Kick foul called Playing In A Dangerous Manner (PIADM). For PIADM to be called, 3 requirements Must be met;

1. The action must be dangerous even if it's dangerous just to the player committing the action.
2. An opponent is nearby
3. An opponent must somehow be disadvantaged.

Remember, ALL fouls must be against opponents, on the field of play. while the ball is in play.
If the referee decides your 'high boot' to be an offense, the restart must always be an indirect free kick as PIADM is not one of the 10 direct free kick fouls