Question Number: 20231

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/13/2008

RE: Competitive Adult

Jack of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20220

By that logic isn't the most common phrase 'I didn't mean it!' a defence to any foul?

"Careless" means that the player has shown a lack of attention or
consideration when making a challenge or that he acted without
precaution.

It sounds to me like the player ran in front of the other with a lack of consideration, slipped over then by doing so carelessly tripped the opponent.

I'm sorry, but I can't agree with you guys on this one. If this logic applies, why can't I run in on every tackle trying to win the ball, but accidentally kicking the opponent first and get away with it?

You must take precaution when you approach an opponent, and if you are clumsy enough to fall over and take them out, is that not a foul?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I've heard, 'But I didn't mean it!' and replied, 'I know. If I thought you meant it, we'd be looking at a caution.' That doesn't mean the action wasn't a foul.

Swinging a leg to kick a ball isn't done by accident. That is a deliberate action. If the impact of the foot happens to be the player rather than the ball, while that was unintended, it was the result of the decision to swing the leg.

Falling down because of an irregularity in the field, was not a deliberate action taken by the player.

Two players who happen to reach the same spot on the field simultaneously and collide could be an accident, or could be as the result of a deliberate action taken by one of them not acting carefully enough to avoid a foul.

There are times that field conditions make challenges more difficult, and the player has to take more care not to foul in those conditions. If the field is wet and slippery, the players have to be more careful not to slide into an opponent when challenging for the ball. But if they happen to slip and fall without making a deliberate action, that's all it is, an accident.

That's why the referee is there, to make these difficult decisions of whether an action is deliberate or accidental.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Not really, careless still holds you at least partially responsible for something you deliberately did even if the unintended consequence was not what you wanted. It is an OPINION of the referee which places the decision to your understanding of what you just witnessed

You are running backwards and your foot twists in a slight depression ankles click together so you fall and the opposing player falls over you is not careless because there was no attempt to deliberately play the ball or foul the player. We call these doubtful incidents where the body of evidence truly does not support carelessness. Yet if that player while falling realizes the opponent is going by decides to add to that fall, a reach up of hands or raise the legs to cause the opponent to have to jump over him as the obstacle is now being manipulated to be just that, it turns a fall into a deliberate attempt to intervene in the opponents progress and if successful should be called.

In a recent match there was an incident involving 4 players, two from each team. where one defender was pursuing a ball dribbling attacker, another, 2nd attacker, bumped into that defender causing the defender to stumble and fall into the trailing leg of the dribbling attacker. The bump could be seen as the attacker's fault as in running a pick but it was a clear slip on a wet day, as he was trying to avoid another defending opponent on the ground by jumping over him then stumbling . This was in my mind a series of accidental events; to find them deliberately careless was doubtful in the extreme. The effect on play was significant as they were all upset that someone was responsible, but it just was not them. I stopped play restarted with a drop ball after warning them to calm down there was no foul it was series of unfortunate events. The appearance of a foul does not make it a foul unless the referee holds the opinion that it is.

If the defender was reaching down to tie the loose shoe laces and an attacker looking back over his shoulder unaware of the lace tying crouched down defender who takes a knee to the face do we look for a foul for careless inattention to a trip on the defender or a charge by the attacker? Or do we stop play, treat the injury, warn them to be careful and drop ball restart? Can two careless acts = doubtful?

Although the word INTENT is not found in the laws relating to fouls it still is a mandate to avoid calling doubtful or trifling infractions as they are not contrary to the meaning of FAIR PLAY

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

'I didn't mean it' is about as useful as 'But Ref I got the ball'. Doesn't matter what the player says or thinks. When considering if something is clearly accidental, it only matters what the referee thinks. Accident has nothing to do with whether or not the player 'meant' it. Most fouls do not get committed with the intent of the player fouling the opponent. If that's the case, we have a foul that has moved to serious foul play or violent conduct or at least to reckless and warranting a caution and yellow card. It's up to the referee to use common sense.