Question Number: 32027

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/15/2017

RE: Under 13

Marika of Auckland, North Island New Zealand asks...

I am doing a Seminar for school and I have been researching for hours to find this answer. I was wondering if there was a difference between an illegal tackle and a foul?
Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Marika,

It's a little difficult to give a definitive answer based on the Laws of the Game document as it does not contain a definition of a foul.

For me personally, and using the terminology in the way I have always understood it while growing up in England, a foul is indeed an illegal tackle or to be more accurate, an illegal physical challenge by a player on an opponent.

However I have noticed that in other places, especially the US, the definition of a foul seems to include both physical challenges and handling offences. So if you were using that definition then a foul is not necessarily the same as an illegal tackle (or challenge).

Looking through the Laws, I would say that the word 'foul' seems to be used in most cases to refer to an illegal physical challenge and nowhere is the term used directly in relation to handling offences. On the other hand, handling is included in the section of the Law entitled ''Fouls and Misconduct'' so you could argue that if it's not misconduct (although the Laws do not give a definition of misconduct either) then it must be included under the general category of 'Fouls.'

So I think the answer is that it depends on your definition of a foul (something that the laws do not supply). An illegal tackle is certainly a foul but depending on how you use the word, a foul is perhaps not necessarily always an illegal tackle.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Marika
The original Laws of the Game has its origins in England in the UK. The first Laws were written in the 1800s obviously using language prevalent at that time The term foul play is a 16th century idiom made widely popular by Shakespeare in a non-sporting context, simply to mean 'unfair behaviour'. Nowadays we often use this phrase in regard to 'fouls' that are committed in sports, that is, actions which are outside the particular rules. The term foul is used in other sports such as to foul stroke in golf, snooker, boxing to name a few.
In soccer the term was generally used in unfair challenges for the ball but it had other uses in unfair actions such as a illegal contact on opponents, foul throw, deliberate handling etc. As most of its use became associated with tackles then the association with tackles is more prevalent.
So to answer your question an illegal tackle is an offence under the laws yet the wider context of a foul can mean other offences such as an illegal push, pull, charge, holding, handling the ball, incorrectly taken throw in which obviously are not illegal tackles meaning that the ball does not have to present and that the arm and body can be used.
In recent times the words offence and infringements have been used. Many languages do not have different words for 'offence' and 'infringement', the difference is not clearly understood (even by English experts) and their use inconsistent e.g. a player can be an 'offender' but not an 'infringer'. To make the Laws clearer and to assist translation, 'offence' and 'offend' replace 'infringement' and 'infringe'.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Markia,
not sure what the reasoning in behind needing to know is, but an illegal tackle as it refers to football is likely to bring up a charging or shoulder barge or a sliding going to ground type tackle in an effort to dispossess a player from the ball. A trip, strike, or a kick, a push, a jump these are offences just as the charge or tackle, these two types of fouls as the other 5 all could have additional misconduct attached in the way these situations occur, be it in a careless reckless or excessive manner. However, SOME offences are not judged in the same manner thus they would differ from illegal tackles . Like these following three offences:
holds an opponent, spits at an opponent, handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area) the first two just have to occur they are not judged as careless reckless or excessive actions but THEY are directed at an opponent where as a handling violation has no opponent it is illegal hand contact with the ball yet all are DFK fouls just different types.

Now infractions are of a technical nature like an offside or a double touch these are also fouls in they result only in an INDFK restart. Same as a keeper holding on to the ball too long only an INDFK or a opponent trying to impede the keeper's release of the ball again it is a foul but an INDFK.

When we talk TACKLE we must be of the mind set it is a attempt to fairly win the ball off an opponent . Without the ball it becomes a far more serious act of violence given the physicality of such actions. Yet an impeding or holding foul might occur away from the ball with possible misconduct but not really a tackle as no ball is being contested. .
Perhaps it is best to say that an illegal tackle is simply a certain type of foul and leave it at that!
Cheers