Question Number: 32443

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/11/2018

RE: Intermediate Under 14

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 32438

Thank you for the explanation. I missed that clarification in the new LOTG. I searched for 'impeding', which didn't lead me to it. I had to search for 'impedes'.

Glad you clarified that for me! (Of course, announcers have been calling holding impeding for years).LOL

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
Yes the language used can be at times at odds with the Laws or misnomers. Some that I can think of
Obstruction
Gaining an advantage
Handball
Foul throw
Backpass
High Boot

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Phil,
Although I would say the IFAB doesn't always get things absolutely right in terms of some of their wording, I think this is a case where they looked at an offence (impeding) where the Laws did not quite match the real-world situation and made the appropriate changes. I think we all know that impeding (obstruction in the old parlance) rarely occurs without some form of contact taking place. So instead of having an offence that starts out as one thing (impeding) when there is no contact but then morphs into a different offence (holding) when there is contact, they changed the law so that it covers what actually happens.