Question Number: 31536

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/15/2017

RE: competitive Adult

Amao Matthew of Ogbomoso, oyo nigeria asks...

if red is calling blue to give him pass during match, is it a foul?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Amoa
Yes that is unsporting behaviour which is a caution and the restart is an indirect free kick. A player should not be shouting to an opponent to pass the ball to him. By doing that Red is either distracting the Blue opponent or deceiving him which is a cautionable offence with an IDFK restart.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Amao,

As funny as it may seem verbal deceptions to trick an opponent out of the ball possession is a form of USB ! "Hey Bill pass the ball I got your back!" When Bill is on the other team and has the ball is not permitted, it is likely yelling Arghhhh! to annoy 0r distract him. This is cautionable, the culprit is shown the yellow card with an INDFK restart awarded to the opposition for the fact play is stopped to show a card for the misconduct, technically not a penal foul but illegal misconduct .

cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Amao,
This is a cautionable offence and is referred to in Law 12 as ''verbally distracts an opponent during play ...''

If the verbal distraction has the desired effect and the referee stops play to deal with the offence, the restart is an indirect free kick, after the offender has been cautioned.

I suppose that if the 'verbals' did not have any effect on the opponent, the advantage rule could be applied (if appropriate) and you might get away with just a verbal warning for the failed attempt, but only if the referee were in a particularly benevolent frame of mind.