Question Number: 30814

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/25/2016

RE: Rec Adult

wayne of melbourne, VIC australia asks...

Hi - I play as a defender. Often deliberately stand my ground and I let the ball pass me or through my legs to another team mate when it is being chased by an attacker. When this happens I do a side to side movement with my body as the attacker play runs by but BOTH FEET are firmly standing still. The attacking player get annoyed saying it is impeding. These are recreational games so there is no ref to make a call.

Also in the same situation I stick out my bottom when the attacking player is running pass me, Again both feet are still and I am standing my ground.

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

HI Wayne,
if you reach out a body part into the path of an opponent SOLEY to ensure contact then you could be holding/pushing which is a DFK restart . Impeding, which has no physical contact, could be an INDFK restart. A wavering might be acceptable, depending on arm movement but a deliberate butt or hip dip into an opponent could be seen as a foul.
from our pitch to your pitch in the spirit of fair play

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

As described, I could very possibly see this as being an offence. It's one of those YHTBT moments but either impeding or unsporting behaviour (or both) spring to mind. If you wish to avoid the chance of it being seen as an infraction, better to just stand still as the ball goes past you or through your legs.

Once you start making movements such as you describe, for which I can see no other rationale than to try and put the opponent off, you definitely run the risk of it being perceived as unfair.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Wayne
As described by you that is a foul either impeding or holding / charging if there is contact.
Is it called by referees? Perhaps not should the referee might decide that the attacker may have contributed to the contact or that it was trifling or incidental.
By doing it a player asks a question of the referee and he may not like the answer.