What is the outcome when a foul is committed against a player who is not in possession of the ball?

When a foul is committed against a player who is not in possession of the ball, the appropriate outcome is that a free kick is awarded to the fouled player. This rule is based on the principle that a player should not be unfairly impeded or obstructed while attempting to move to the ball or participate in the play, even if they do not currently have control over it.

In soccer, a foul typically involves actions such as tripping, pushing, or holding an opponent, and it is deemed that any player—regardless of whether they are actively playing the ball—should be protected from unfair actions by opponents. When such a foul occurs, the game is stopped, and the player who was fouled is granted the right to take a free kick, thereby allowing them to re-enter the game fairly.

Other outcomes listed, such as a throw-in, goal kick, or penalty kick, do not apply to the situation described. A throw-in is given when the ball goes out of play, while a goal kick is awarded when the ball crosses the goal line but not resulting in a goal, touching an attacker last. A penalty kick is only given when a foul occurs within the fouling player's own penalty area, which does not pert