| While many soccer fans have an idea what a foul is, | | | | * Should the player be penalized - yellow card/red |
| they might not be aware of the basic requirements | | | | card? |
| that define a foul. For a foul to occur, there are basic | | | | The nature of the foul |
| requirements: | | | | According to the Laws of the game, the referee must |
| * It must be committed by a player | | | | consider whether the following fouls, which are |
| * It must occur on the field of play | | | | punishable by a direct free kick, are committed in a |
| * It must occur while the ball is in play | | | | careless manner (no card), reckless manner (yellow |
| According to the Laws of the game, if any one of the | | | | card) or with excessive force (red card). |
| requirements is absent, then the infraction is not a foul. | | | | * kicks or attempts to kick an opponent |
| In an instance where not all requirements are satisfied, | | | | * trips or attempt to trip an opponent |
| it is likely that misconduct has occurred. For example, if | | | | * jumps at an opponent |
| a substitute enters the field of play and makes a brutal | | | | * charges an opponent |
| tackle, the substitute must be shown the red card and | | | | * strikes or attempts to strike an opponent |
| sent off for violent conduct (as opposed to serious | | | | * pushes an opponent |
| foul play) and play would be restarted with an indirect | | | | * tackles an opponent |
| free kick to the opponent. | | | | There are three fouls, punishable by a direct free kick, |
| If the incident occurs outside the field of play, play | | | | where the only consideration is whether the foul took |
| restarts with a dropped ball. When the ball is out of | | | | place (not whether it was reckless or with excessive |
| play, only misconduct can occur. Misconduct is | | | | force). |
| punishable by a disciplinary sanction but it does not | | | | * holds an opponent |
| alter the restart of play. In the case of serious foul play, | | | | * spits at an opponent |
| the foul must occur when the player committing the | | | | * deliberately handles the ball |
| foul is challenging for the ball. | | | | Playing in a dangerous manner is also an offence, |
| When considering a foul, there are considerations for a | | | | since it unfairly denies the opponent chance at playing |
| referee to make: | | | | the ball. It is also not permissible to deliberately impede |
| * What was the nature of the foul? | | | | the progress of an opponent or to prevent the |
| * How should the team be penalized for the foul - | | | | goalkeeper from releasing the ball. |
| direct free kick/indirect free kick/ penalty kick? | | | | |