Question Number: 23874

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/4/2010

Rick of Palatine, IL USA asks...

If a player charges another player fairly, but not within playing distance of the ball is it a direct or indirect kick?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rick
In the US the answer is an indirect free kick. If the referee considers the charge to be careless, reckless, or involving excessive force, the restart is a direct free kick (or penalty kick).
In the rest of the world it is a direct free kick for any charge by a player on an opponent off the ball. It is legal to fairly charge an opponent when the ball is within playing distance as long as it is not careless. reckless or uses excessive force. I describe it as easing an opponent off the ball using shoulder to shoulder.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Advice to Referees covers this:

12.22 CHARGING AN OPPONENT AWAY FROM THE BALL
A player who charges an opponent in an otherwise legal manner (i.e., not carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force) but with the ball not within playing distance has infringed the Law. Such an 'off the ball' charge is considered a form of impeding the progress of an opponent (even though contact has occurred) and is thus penalized with an indirect free kick restart for the opposing team. If the referee considers the charge to be careless, reckless, or involving excessive force, the restart is a direct free kick (or penalty kick).

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Rick, there are ten fouls, sometimes referred to as 'penal' fouls, which are punishable by a DFK or PK. One of these is charging. Here is how charging is done in the normal execution of play from Guidelines to Referees, written by IFAB, issued by FIFA;

The act of charging is a challenge for space using physical contact
within playing distance of the ball without using arms or elbows.

So, in your example, charging becomes a foul because it is not within playing distance of the ball. Since charging is one of the ten fouls that merits a DFK, that is the restart.
Be aware that I am from Canada. Although not sanctioned by FIFA, the USSF Advice To Referees may apply to you.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Note that 12.22 states that contact does occur, even though it's a form of 'impeding'. This gives USSF referees a bit of wiggle room. Since this could easily be seen as a careless charge, it's the opinion of the referee that matters and can be justified per Advice either way.

Also. this is from LOTG Q&A from 2004:

30.   A player is charged in a fair manner but the ball is not within playing distance. What action should the referee take?
If the referee considers the charge on the opponent to be careless, a direct free kick or a penalty kick will be awarded.

This is exactly what Advice says if deemed careless