Question Number: 31944

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/27/2017

RE: High school Adult

Patrick murtagh of Eastchester, New York Usa asks...

A defender raises their boot towards the head of an attacker in the penalty area to try to win then ball leg Was high referee blows the whistle to award a what?

After you answer I will tell you what the referee awarded

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Patrick,
I would hope the referee awarded the appropriate restart for whatever occurred! Why did you not send a video for viewing? I will assume none was available. I provided one for you to see.
TO speculate really does no good. IF the referee stopped play because a defender's foot was raised up head high and an opponents' safety was compromised the possibility of an INDFK for PIADM subject to special circumstances if it occurred within the 6 yard goal area, where it is moved to the edge of the 6 yard line the restart occurs where it happens.
If there was actual physical contact of a substantial nature then it would be deemed as a DFK thus a PK since you claim this occurs inside the PA?
There could be reasons to caution as USB or reckless action or even show a red card for DOGSO or if excessive contact SFP. What it should not be is drop ball, unless the referee holds the collision was no ones fault and stops for a possible head injury. Then there is the no call where play simply continues because the referee deemed nothing of significance occurred.
Cheers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gnOfzQE8nY

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Patrick
There are a number of option here. It can be an IDFK for playing in a dangerous manner or a direct free kick for kicking an opponent with a high boot. The referee can also take disciplinary action of a caution for being reckless or a red card for using excessive force or for that matter take no action as it was simply careless with the opponent contributing to the offense.
It could also be no offense where the referee deems that the high boot posed no risk to an opponent nor was there any contact.
Now as Referee Dawson states it should not be a dropped ball yet there could be a situation where the referee opines that there is no offense and that play is stopped for a potential injury. In addition if the referee felt that the player feigned an injury it could be a caution and an IDFK for the simulation.
So it all depends on what the referee sees and his opinion of the situation.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Patrick,
I'm afraid that for me, there is just not enough information to make a decision here. It sounds as if there might well have been an offence of ''playing in a dangerous manner'' (PIADM) but not necessarily, if all the criteria were not met. Simply raising the foot in the general direction of an opponent or having the leg high is not always an offence. It depends on whether there was an actual risk posed to the safety of the opponent or not. The exact wording of the law tells us that:

''Playing in a dangerous manner is any action that, while trying to play the ball, threatens injury to someone (including the player themself) and includes preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury.''

So if there was a threat of injury to the attacker (but with no contact) and especially if the opponent was prevented from playing the ball it would be a PIADM offence resulting in an indirect free kick but if the actions did not actually pose a risk - depending mainly on how close the foot got to the opponent's head and the opponent's reaction to it - then there might not be any offence at all. If there was actual contact it would become a direct free kick offence (or penalty if in the penalty area).

Also, depending on the exact situation (let's say the attacker was about to head the ball into an unguarded net and the raised foot prevented them from doing so) it could be a DOGSO offence leading to a penalty and a yellow or red card based on whether the referee thinks it was a genuine attempt to play the ball or not.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 31951