What constitutes a direct free kick?

A direct free kick is awarded for certain types of fouls committed by the opposing team, such as tripping, pushing, or holding an opponent. What sets a direct free kick apart is that it can be taken directly at the opponent's goal. The player taking the kick has the opportunity to score without the ball needing to touch another player first, which makes it a prime scoring opportunity.

The nature of the foul determines whether the kick is direct or indirect. In contrast to direct free kicks, indirect kicks require the ball to touch another player before a goal can be scored. Penalty kicks are specific to fouls committed inside the penalty area, while corner kicks occur due to the ball being last touched by a defending player who then sends it out of play. These other scenarios do not fit the classification of a direct free kick.