Question Number: 31011

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/11/2016

RE: Competitive Under 17

Aaron Speca of Virginia Beach, VA United States asks...

I'm simply wondering what the referee is motioning here on this play that looked like a pretty clear foul by Red #11 but was not called.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=civsfvnYqqo

And thanks for asking about the kids! Both my son and daughter are co-captains of their respective teams, and my daughter's team just won the state President's Cup for her age group and will move on to Regionals in June (multi-state tournament).

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Aaron
glad to hear you are all doing well. Ask your kids what is the fastest thing is on the soccer field and if they like spam?
I posted my response in the comment section of the video . You and your kids can see what I look like. My nickname is Grizzlierbear! lol

Pretty clear foul indeed! lol The referee's actions likely indicate the awareness of the player on the ground even if she did not call a foul and thought it a fair charge. Given the referee is allowing play to continue with the keeper in ball possession I would think her pointing to the fallen player was in asking her if she was ok to continue rather than stop for a drop ball to the keeper.
Best guess, no mind reader here. Good luck to your daughter in the regionals.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
Yes it is indeed a foul of pushing by Red on Blue. As to why it was not called perhaps angle of view can have a bearing. It could look like that Blue lost her balance while playing the ball and fell over. Another factor can be that some referees have a higher threshold on contact that constitutes a foul. Sometimes players in games go to ground too easily. In a recent game that I did a particular player went down on every single contact even slight contact. At one stage the player felt contact from behind and threw himself forward. I ignored the incident as the level of contact did not merit the extent of the fall. A short while later while running side by side inside the penalty area the player went to ground on shoulder to shoulder contact appealing for a penalty. I did not give it either.
On what the referee is motioning to perhaps it is the fact that the player stays down which might suggest an injury. It could be *I see the player down and if it is an injury I could stop* type of motion.