What may follow foul and gratuitous level of spice? (4,4)
I believe the answer is:
free kick
'level of spice?' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are singular nouns, I can't see how one could define the other.
'what may follow foul and gratuitous' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'foul' could be 'kick' (type of football foul) and 'kick' is present in the answer.
'gratuitous' could be 'free' (synonyms) and 'free' is found within the answer.
No letters remain.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for free kick that I've seen before include "Award for foul" , "play at Wembley?" , "Feature in football" , "It's allowed for a foul" , "'It's given for a foul (4,4)'" .)