Spot the signal

The fastest way to tell the two apart is to watch the referee's arm. Indirect is signalled with one arm raised straight up and held there until the ball is touched by a second player or the kick fails to score. Direct is signalled with the arm pointed in the direction of the kick.

Direct free kick — the offence list

Direct free kicks are awarded for physical fouls or handball:

• Kicking, tripping, jumping at, charging, striking, pushing, or tackling an opponent carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force
• Holding an opponent
• Spitting at or biting an opponent
• Throwing an object at the ball, an opponent, or a match official
• Handling the ball deliberately (except by the goalkeeper inside their penalty area)

If a direct free kick offence happens inside the offending team's own penalty area, the restart is a penalty kick, not a free kick.

Indirect free kick — the offence list

Indirect free kicks are awarded for technical offences and dangerous play:

• Offside
• Playing in a dangerous manner (high boot near a head, etc.)
• Impeding an opponent without contact
• Goalkeeper holding the ball more than the allowed time, or handling a deliberate kick from a teammate, or handling a teammate's throw-in
• Verbal dissent, unsporting behaviour without contact

Why "indirect" exists

The split exists because not every infraction warrants the threat of a direct shot at goal. Technical offences — like a goalkeeper holding the ball too long inside the six-yard box — would otherwise gift the attacking team a near-certain goal. Forcing the ball to touch another player first prevents that.

Restart rules

For both kicks the ball must be stationary on the ground, opponents must be at least 9.15m (10 yards) away, and the kicker cannot touch the ball a second time before another player has played it.