Question Number: 31661

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/29/2017

RE: Competitive Adult

Mark of Barrie, Ontario Canada asks...

Good day,

I was looking last night in the FIFA Rules where is the definition of what a 'shoulder to shoulder' challenge is.

Can anyone tell me?

Thank you,
Mark

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark

The Laws of the Game require an element of tacit knowledge. There are many part to the law that are not spelled out explicitly and we are left to interpret same with help from what is understood / expected / advised in the game.
In respect of a legal charge the Law tells us that it is a challenge for space using physical contact within playing distance of the ball without using arms or elbows. So the hip , shoulder can be used and the contact must be direct at the side of the opponent with the ball within playing distance of both. For those of us in the game a long time the laws did allow a higher level of contact in the past on charging. GKs used to be charged regularly once they came out of the goal area
In the modern game if the contact is in the chest or back area then that is deemed to be careless, reckless which makes it a foul.
As to the level of acceptable force I describe it as easing a player off the ball, that is the challenge for space. Where a player runs at an opponent from distance and knocks them to the ground shoulder to shoulder that is certainly careless, perhaps reckless which is a foul.
In this video there is a charge and the referee does not sees it as a foul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUCPFrOV8JM
Did the player use his arm or his shoulder. There are no complaints from the players so I would say that it was okay
Have a look at these clips
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3u6cHvsTArE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quqk637UI50
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qhKJgaGPt8
All are illegal.
Now in this last one below I might see that one going unpunished in certain games. There is a mismatch in size and the smaller player comes off second best. It does look like a push using the arm rather than a side to side charge. I don't have any difficulty with the referees call of a penalty kick and neither does the players
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OzBMZnZl7g

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mark,
rather than use shoulder to shoulder perhaps we could refer to it as side to side ? A successful bump can see shoulder, hip & thigh contact!
When two opposing players are in a foot race for the ball even if one is actually in possession by dribbling the other will try to EASE him off the ball by using his body to essentially bump the opponent off the ball while within playing distance of said ball. Playing distance is about 2 steps at the speed of play to get to the ball.

The fact that many players will extend an arm to either ward off a challenger in a one arm shiver like a football block or reach in to hold or push or grab the opponent which often makes a legal challenge impossible.

The intersection point is looked at as a coming together, not a ramming speed, blow the man down charge.

The impact must be side to side not directed into the chest or back as these are considered fouls.

It is very difficult for a much larger player to challenge a small one or vice versa because the larger one pushes or holds down and the smaller players have to leave their feet to make fair contact . That said I do think larger players often get singled out if the opponent bounces off them and are unfairly awarded free kicks against simply due to physics and mass.
Cheers