What type of kick is awarded for an "off-the-ball" charge?

An off-the-ball charge is considered a foul that occurs when a player makes physical contact with an opponent who does not have the ball. In this situation, the appropriate action is to award an indirect free kick to the team that was fouled.

An indirect free kick is given for various offenses, including certain fouls or when the ball has not been played directly towards the goal. In the case of an off-the-ball charge, the nature of the foul does not present an immediate scoring opportunity, hence the indirect free kick is the suitable choice.

Options such as a direct free kick, goal kick, and corner kick are awarded under different circumstances. A direct free kick is awarded for more severe fouls against a player who is in possession of the ball, while goal kicks and corner kicks are related to the ball going out of play, either from the defending or attacking side’s actions, respectively. Therefore, for an off-the-ball charge, the indirect free kick is the correct response, reflecting the rules of soccer regarding lesser fouls.