"Unintentional" - Last touch rule

Yesterday twice in front of us there was a throw in awarded and not a free kick against the last player who's foot the ball vame off. With both of these the ball was 5m -20m away from the boundary line when it came off a players boot. One for each team.
When the (same) umpire awarded these he shouted out "unintentional".
I've tlked to several people including those that go every week and they'd never seen this before, they'd even see one player tap it onto another players boot to milk free kicks in the past.
Has the rule changed or was it always there and never used or is one umpire clueless?
I would have thought 99% of last touches would be "unintentional"?
Genuinely curious.
When the (same) umpire awarded these he shouted out "unintentional".
I've tlked to several people including those that go every week and they'd never seen this before, they'd even see one player tap it onto another players boot to milk free kicks in the past.
Has the rule changed or was it always there and never used or is one umpire clueless?
I would have thought 99% of last touches would be "unintentional"?

Genuinely curious.