Question Number: 30463

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/28/2016

Mauricio P. of Redmond, Washington United States asks...

Hi, Question on update to law 12 regarding impeding an opponent with contact. Players often do this as the ball is going out of bounds. Scenario, the defending player shields the ball and is NOT within playing distance. The attacking player is the one making contact trying to get around the defending player. Restart with an DFK or IDFK? Per the update law I would go with DFK but would like your interpretation.

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mauricio,
I suggest you keep treating it as a holding DFK foul . I also suggest you look at it as possible misconduct and cardable for a USB tactical foul. Note the championship match in REAL versus ATLETICO exact situations and many similar to what you described occurs outside the PA resulting in a direct free kick plus a YELLOW CARD in one incident where the ball was not in playing distance and the heavy pushing contact inside the PA that resulted in goal kicks rather than DFK kicks in or out.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mauricio
There has been no change in the Law just a cleaner interpretation of this. Impeding with contact is holding and a DFK restart.
The challenge for referees is determining playing distance in a dynamic game situation. Playing distance is also a very loose term and some see it as one to two paces while others see it as more.
So the ball going out over the goal line and the defender shields the ball then the referee would need to be very certain of the playing distance plus the location of the ball at the moment of the contact. Has the ball left playing distance to make it a foul. If it is out of play there cannot be a foul. For this reason if there is doubt most referees go with the goal kick.
If the referee feels that the shielding is legal and the attacker is the player that is fouling then it is a DFK to the defender for illegal charging or pushing. Again most see it as no foul or trifling and just go with the goal kick.
As Referee Dawson points out there were two very clear examples in the ECL final both of which were ignored and restarted with goal kicks.