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Two referee signals separated only by whether the arm stays up, deciding whether a goal scored straight from the kick counts.
If the referee lowers the arm immediately, it is a direct free kick and a shot that goes straight in is a goal. If the arm stays raised, it is indirect, and the ball must be touched by a second player before it enters the goal or the goal does not stand. The arm comes down as soon as that second touch happens, so an arm still up as the ball crosses the line is the clearest sign that what looked like a goal is not one.
The direct signal lowers the arm; the indirect signal keeps it raised until the ball is played by a second player.
Drawn from the visual attributes recorded for each symbol. Only traits the two records disagree about are listed.
| Trait | Direct free kick signal | Indirect free kick signal |
|---|---|---|
| Built from | people and hands | people, lines and dots |
| Direct free kick signal | Indirect free kick signal | |
|---|---|---|
| The arm | Extended toward the attacking direction, then lowered at once. | Raised above the head and held there. |
| When the arm comes down | Immediately; the signal is momentary. | When a second player touches the ball, or the ball goes out of play. |
| Goal straight from the kick | Counts. | Does not count; a goal kick is awarded instead. |
| What to watch for | Nothing after the kick — the decision is already made. | The referee's arm at the moment the ball crosses the line. |
| Relationship (from Symbolwise's records) | Commonly confused with Indirect free kick signal — The direct signal lowers the arm; the indirect signal keeps it raised until the ball is played by a second player. | Commonly confused with Direct free kick signal — The two free-kick signals differ only in whether the arm stays raised, and decide whether a direct goal stands. |
International Football Association Board and FIFA · retrieved 2026-08-27
The body that writes the laws of association football, cited for the defined signals and their meanings. Not cited for whether any decision was correctly given.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) · retrieved 2026-08-02
The Laws that govern association football worldwide, revised annually. Authoritative for what a referee's signal means and when it must be given. Signals used in other codes of football are governed elsewhere and are not covered by it.
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