Question Number: 32609

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/30/2018

Zluvka of Liberec, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

Attacker runs with the ball to the goal. Defender runs just behind him. Attacker deliberately stops the move. Defender charges him from behind because he cannot stop.

Is it attacker's or defender's foul?

Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Zluvka
The answer depends on whether the attacker manages to control the ball to keep it within playing distance. If the attacker has the ball under control when he stops then it is a foul by the defender if he charges him from the rear.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Zluvka,
An attacker with the ball under control and/or within playing distance is entitled to stop, change direction, change speed etc. If a defender collides with an attacker, the referee has to decide whether the defender was careless, reckless or used excessive force. If so, a foul has been committed. I suppose that in theory, the referee could also look at the attacker's actions to see if they were at a minimum careless (or something worse) but I doubt that a player stopping on the ball would be considered as an offence in the normal course of events.