Question Number: 30690

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/27/2016

RE: Social Adult

Simon Mahoney of Auckland, New Zealand asks...

This happened in a game today, the ball was bouncing at waist height and the defender went to head the ball. Just as he was about to head the ball the attacker kicked it clear. Is this high feet, or if the ball is at a height that it could be expect to be kicked then its just bad luck for whoever might try and head the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Simon
Hard to call. Waist high can be a subjective term and many times would not generally be considered playing in a dangerous manner with a raised boot playing the ball. Probably as much of a risk of lowering the head which can also be PIADM. Countries also have differing interpretations. In my part of the world it would be more acceptable than say in other parts of Europe where a raised boot at any height is frowned on.
Having said that the manner of the raised foot would be a consideration such as showing the studs would clearly be seen as unacceptable. Position of the players, direction of the ball and manner of the challenge would all be factors that the referee would take into account. Two players facing the same way would be much less dangerous than players facing each other . I also think that a stooping player will get the benefit in the raised boot scenario.
Here is a video on the subject which asks your question.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTZnVXO02gE
Here is an example from the English Premier League game
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=x5hd-RJUHIg
This in my opinion should have been a penalty and an a caution for reckless play by Red 2. The referee Howard Webb restarted with a goal kick.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2478781/John-Terry-kicked-head-Abou-Diaby--Andy-Hooper-picture.html

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Simon, thanks for the question.

Firstly, let's deal with the terminology. 'High foot' (or feet) is not a category of offence. The offence that this normally refers to is 'playing in a dangerous manner' or PIADM for short. So long as a particular action is not dangerous either to an opponent or the player themselves, it is perfectly acceptable. So if a player raises their foot and there is no opponent nearby, there is no offence.

Your scenario sounds like a classic YHTBT (you had to be there) moment. The question for the referee to consider is whether one of the players committed an action that was dangerous and if so, which one. While Ref McHugh had given some good examples and some good guidelines to help in deciding incidents like these, without actually seeing the incident in question, it's almost impossible to say what the decision (if any) should have been.