The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves.
A free kick can be taken by lifting the ball with a foot or both feet simultaneously.
Feinting to take a free kick to confuse opponents is permitted as part of football. However, if in the opinion of the referee, the feinting is considered an act of unsporting behaviour, the player must be cautioned.
If a player, while correctly taking a free kick, intentionally kicks the ball at an opponent in order to play the ball again but neither in a careless nor a reckless manner nor using excessive force, the referee must allow play to continue.
An indirect free kick must be retaken if the referee fails to raise his arm to indicate that the kick is indirect and the ball is kicked directly into the goal. The initial indirect free kick is not nullified by the referee’s mistake.
Distance
If a player decides to take a free kick quickly and an opponent who is less than 9.15 m from the ball intercepts it, the referee must allow play to continue.
If a player decides to take a free kick quickly and an opponent who is near the ball deliberately prevents him taking the kick, the referee must caution the player for delaying the restart of play.
If, when a free kick is taken by the defending team from inside its own penalty area, one or more opponents remain inside the penalty area because the defender decides to take the kick quickly and the opponents did not have time to leave the penalty area, the referee must allow play to continue.
LAW 14: THE PENALTY KICK
Feinting to take a penalty kick to confuse opponents is permitted as part of football. However, if, in the opinion of the referee, the feinting is considered an act of unsporting behaviour, the player must be cautioned.
Preparing for the penalty kick
The referee must confirm the following requirements before the penalty kick is taken:
• the kicker is identified
• the ball is properly placed on the penalty mark
• the goalkeeper is on the goal line between the goal posts and facing the kicker
• the team-mates of the kicker and the goalkeeper are:
– outside the penalty area
– outside the penalty arc
– behind the ball