Question Number: 31197

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/23/2017

RE: Adult

Chris of Bellingham, WA United States asks...

Hi Ref, I have been playing soccer almost my whole life,but never actually read the rules. I was always coached that when challenging for possession of a ball that you had to play the ball and not the man. In my match yesterday one of my team mates was dribbling up the field when a defender caught up from behind and more or less shoulder checked my teammate off the ball without making contact with the ball...at all. No fowl was called and when I challenged the ref, yes I know better, he said it was not a foul.

I considered that playing the man and not the ball. Is that even a real rule or more a philosophy, or just something in my head?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Chris
Soccer is a contact sport and there are lots of contact that is not a foul. The Laws allow for a legal charge which is easing an opponent off the ball using shoulder against shoulder while the ball is within playing distance, arm tucked in against the body, with each player having at least one foot on the ground and both attempting to gain control of the ball. Generally it happens while both player are side by side with both being able to play the ball. If the charging player uses reckless or excessive effort to knock the player over then that is a foul, as is making contact with the players back or chest in the charge. There will be times when the legally charged player loses balance and falls over. The referee has to decide the difference. The amount of force allowed is relative to the age and experience of the players and it should never be excessive. This is determined by the referee, not by a book definition, adjusted as necessary for the age and experience of the players and what has happened or is happening in this particular game on this particular day at this particular moment.
Here is an example of a legal charge with no complaint and the players getting on with play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUCPFrOV8JM
Note that the ball is within playing distance of both players. Had the attacker kicked the ball away towards goal then the charge would not have been legal.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Chris,
we appreciate the question! Within the LOTG it is permitted to ease an opponent off the ball by going shoulder to shoulder, side by side and essentially 'legally' nudging him away to gain possession of the ball. The important aspects are it is done fairly, the ball is within playing distance, which is about two steps at the speed of play), the free arm is not used to push or grab, the upper body, hips, thighs and leg not used in a charging or tripping action and the contact is not directed into the back or chest.

You strike me as good sport! A lot of myths crop up around the game! 'I got the ball ref' ,is one that perpetuates getting to the ball makes it no foul which is opposite to your view here in the ball is not contacted so it must be a foul. Yet they are related n that some actions are inherently unsafe or against the LOTG. No matter where the ball is!

I slid tackle through you in a forceful manner after I push the ball right between your legs that tackle was ALWAYS unsafe and the resulting collision is a foul, often a serious one with additional misconduct and cards attached . The fact the ball was contacted first means ZERO in these cases. Furthermore, you are not incorrect in thinking the SAME for a forceful shoulder SMASH could result in a foul with misconduct if it IS performed unsafely. The key point in THESE situations, the LOTG allow you to destabilize your opponent, so long a it is performed in a side by side ease off rather than a ramming or shove off! lol

Another aspect where an judgment is rendered on a shoulder to shoulder fair challenge is the height of the two player involved! It is quite difficult for a small player and larger opponent to FAIRLY charge one another . Not necessarily because of the mass physics ratio but the small guy has to leapt up off his feet jumping at an opponent and the big guy often leans down, pushing or holding his opponent into the ground

So there is a lot that CAN go wrong and create a foul, be it charging or tripping or pushing or holding, but, it is not, if correctly done, a foul! A referee can accept some 'Hey what's that for?' as he is aware that emotional passions, a restricted point of view and limited knowledge formulate a lot of the players thinking but you already know it is unwise to dig to hard into their personal space! lol

Cheers