the Italian job

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Another questionable call in this World Cup showed Italy the way to the quarter-final yesterday, giving the Italians a penalty kick that Francesco Totti converted for the 1-0 win as time expired. Moments earlier, Italy's Fabio Grosso was dribbling a few strides from the goalmouth when Lucas Neill slid in front of him. The Italian cut in Neill's direction and tried to leap clear, but tripped over the defender's back.

To the amazement of the Socceroos, Spanish referee Luis Medina Cantalejo immediately ruled it a penalty with 12 seconds remaining in extra time. Totti, a second-half substitute, sent his penalty kick high and to the right of goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, who guessed correctly but couldn't stretch far enough to stop it.

But when exactly is a free kick direct or indirect?

According to the "Laws of the Game", a free kick is direct when a player:

• kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
• trips or attempts to trip an opponent
• jumps at an opponent
• charges an opponent
• strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
• pushes an opponent
• makes contact with the opponent before touching the ball when tackling
• holds an opponent
• spits at an opponent
• handles the ball deliberately

If any of these offences are committed by a player inside their own penalty area, then it's a penalty kick. An indirect free kick results when, in the opinion of the referee, a player:

• impedes the progression of an opponent (obstruction)
• plays in a dangerous manner
• prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands

At most, Neill was guilty of "impeding the progression of an opponent" (i.e. obstruction) which is an indirect free kick. Penalties are a result of direct free kick deserving fouls, which was hardly the situation in this case. Check the replay.

The Aussies got screwed... talk about an Italian job!

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