Question Number: 30012

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/6/2016

RE: Rec Under 13

Jester of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

Is it illegal for a player to tickle another player while attempting to get the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
As a general rule players do not need to raise their hands towards opponents and anything that unsportingly interferes with an opponents playing of the game is an offence. For example shouting to distract an opponent is a caution for USB and an indirect free kick restart. Sometimes when raised arms happen it is a natural reaction such a fend off or a coming together etc. Raised hands can suggest a push or a hold and the referee has to decide if the contact merited such a foul. It is highly unlikely that in dynamic play that player would be static long enough for anything else to happen. If a referee sees a players arm around an opponent there is the potential for that to be called as holding.
If a player suggests that something untoward has happened the referee can and should take action by speaking with the players.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

This one sounds so weird that I can only conclude it must have happened!
The laws cannot possibly cover every scenario explicitly; many incidents depend on the referee's understanding of the game and which parts of the law are 'grey'.
Intuitively, it's pretty clear that tickling a player wouldn't seem right - the game is about challenging for the ball, not finding other ways to physically intervene.
Knowing that it's against the spirit of the game, the referee then needs to determine if it's against the laws of the game. If it's before the ball is in play then it's easy to deal with - it doesn't need to break any specific laws. But when the ball is in play? I can't see it fitting into any of the ten penal fouls....although given there would have to be contact, perhaps the referee could fit it into 'strikes an opponent', given that some contact occurs? Sometimes the wise referee knows how far he can stretch a law to cover a scenario!

The laws have a clause which allow the referee to caution a player and award an Indirect Free Kick for an offence not previously specified. I'd suggest this would also be applicable, but at this age it would probably be best to have a word with the player rather than go straight to the cards.

Either way, I can't possibly imagine the advantage the player would get from this - but like I said, if it's done when the ball is out of play, the referee should definitely tell the player to knock it off.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jester,
hmmm tickling? you sure your name is not Joker? lol You could see it as taunting in high school or USB is a catch all for actions deemed as unsporting in most any match . One might think a caution show a yellow card is excessive but seriously if an opponent started feather dusting ANY part of my body I would be inclined to punch him in the nose. A simple knock it off MIGHT be all that is required but racial or gender issues for irregular contact is in play here even if it was meant in fun.
Cheers