Question Number: 31897

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/13/2017

Barry Stewart of Chilliwack, BC Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 31895

Responses to the video example mention that the defender didn't get a touch on the ball.

Even if he had knocked the ball clear, isn't this one of those cases where the ball was cleared but the attacker was also wiped out?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Barry
Thanks for seeking clarification. There is always a fine line between playing the ball and then contact on an opponents after the ball is played.
Had White made contact on the ball FIRST and there was a subsequent coming together then many times that is not a foul.
Now this is not a good example of the ball being played as it is clearly a foul with contact on the opponent with no play on the ball. As it was said it was a stonewall penalty kick with a caution.
Have a look at these videos
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0oPXELI9DWQ&t=1m33s
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oPXELI9DWQ&t=2m37s
The defenders play the ball and then there is a coming together with the opponents. These would not be seen as fouls even though there is significant *contact* afterwards.
Now we know that getting the ball first and/ or collecting the opponent in a reckless manner is always a foul. Angle of challenge, force used, disregard for the opponent are all factors to be considered yet when two players are running in the same direction with a slide tackle playing the ball away first will most times not be seen as a foul on the subsequent contact.
So your point is well made and the assumption was made in my answer that had the ball been played first that would have necessitated no contact through the player first to play the ball and that any subsequent contact would not be seen as a foul.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Barry,
I recently saw of a piece of advice that was apparently put out by the USSF in the past and which went as follows:

- Getting the ball first does not make a tackle legal.
- Not getting the ball first does make the tackle illegal.
- Getting the ball first but following through with the rest of the body in a careless or reckless manner or using excessive force does make the tackle illegal.
- ''Getting the ball'' cannot be used as an excuse for committing a tackle which is out of control.

This, even though it might not be considered as 'official' advice any more, still holds true as far as I can tell.