Question Number: 31901

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/15/2017

RE: Rec Adult

Russell of Sydney, Australia asks...

In the Recent Liverpool v ManU was there an off the FOP incident unnoticed.

Fast forward to the 9.00 mark of the coverage in the below link (or 5.18 of the actual match time).

Was there a holding foul by the ManU player while there were both off the FOP?

It was very brief and un ess close, it would probably be hard to see it. The slight off balance that the Liverpool defender had was probably as much to do with the surface off the FOP as it was any holding.

Still, possible a rare occasion to see a DFK with the ball placed on the line [if a player leaves the field of play as part of play and commits an offence against another player, play is restarted with a free kick taken on the boundary line nearest to where the offence occurred;
for direct free kick offences a penalty kick is awarded if this is within the offenders penalty area].

https://weshare.me/2beb56ed103ff787/LIV-MANU_1st_half_ENG.mp4

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russell
This is also a perfect example of trifling and doubtful. I can assure you that had the referee stopped play here to award a DFK on the line then there would have been a lot of head scratching as to why it would have been given. Had the Liverpool player clearly pulled back the United player, influencing subsequent play then the correct and proper decision would have been a DFK on the line
I had occasion to be at a game recently where the referee called everything. I would say it was one of the most frustrating games ever for everyone concerned. Many *fouls* did not need to be called such as this type of incident
I also attended a new referee course briefly for a short while and the topic was Law 14 and penalty kicks. The tutor was explaining Law 14 which is black and white yet we know that without the use of trifling and doubtful many kicks would take multiple retakes. It is very difficult to communicate the concept of trifling and doubtful and indeed many struggle with it.
I also did a game at the weekend and I gave a soft foul for arm holding by a defender late in the second half in a one sided affair. Even the attacker did not sense that he was being held and it made little difference if any to his play. Both teams were surprised when I gave it and had I allowed play to continue nothing would have been said nor was it expected.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Russell,
my colleague Ref McHugh points to the the uncertainty principle referees struggle with in determining trifling & doubtful circumstances. While the PK is our most common issue of pragmatic decision making the new DFK for fouls OUTSIDE the FOP are certain to raise some conundrums.

I can see why you thought it unfair based on the marginal pull by the white player created the fall and thus he intercepted that ball even as the red player while backing in was slipping in trying to ward off the opponent.

You note there was NO hint of complaint and no repercussions because the referee correctly gauged the level of tolerance by the player was not breeched nor was his own bar of acceptable behaviour challenged.

I often point out the part in the book of FOR THE GOOD OF THE GAME where I think Ed talks about Maradonna and whistling for the defenders' constant grabbing on him to where even Maradonna complained to let them play as he could shrug off most of those challenges.