Question Number: 31728

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/23/2017

Barry Stewart of Chilliwack, BC Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 31726

Joe McHugh says: 'I have also seen players on a challenge make late contact on the kickers kicking leg after the ball is gone which is also a foul.'

Thank you, Joe!

I saw this in a game last year, where an attacker made a shot on goal and a defender came running through the kicker's shooting leg, causing the kicker to wince in pain.

I called a foul and the accused looked at me like I was nuts. 'That's not a foul,' he said.

'Yes, it is,' I declared. From now on, I'll be able to add '¦ and Joe McHugh says it is, too!'

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry
What you describe is a *late challenge* and it is certainly a foul. Now on many shots we may allow the *advantage* where the contact is minimal and we consider the contact as trifling. When a player winches in pain on contact by an opponent after kicking the ball away either in a pass or a shot it is certainly a foul. In certain circumstances it may even be a caution or worse depending on the manner of the foul and the force used.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Barry,
it is a sad comment but I often see a defender get a lick in on many attackers who get a shot away and miss with no sanctions.

Coming in late and getting a free one seems to occur a lot if the shot is taken where as the same incident out on the FOP could be a DFK . IN part because the ball might be out of play off the shot thus it is misconduct not a foul.

There appears to be an acceptance by players of some contact as doubtful or trifling if the shot is taken and goal results or a save is made or the ball goes over the goal line out of play as part of the pain for gain I implied earlier almost as punishment for missing is a reward.

There is in my opinion a fundamental difference in sticking out a foot and getting it kicked because it arrived just as the other foot arrived as a blocking option then having it arrive after the kick as a kicking action.
Cheers