Question Number: 32791

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/12/2018

RE: Rec Under 15

Brian White of Palmer, MA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 32765

Thanks for you insight into shoulder charges. In the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUCPFrOV8JM

you state that this is a legal charge.

Yet I see it as a pushing foul, specifically because the arm/elbow come up after the shoulder to shoulder contact, and IMO, that's what sends the attacker to the ground.

Ref McHugh states that a legal charge can be looked at as an 'easing an opponent away from the ball.' - this to me is is not easing the attacker off the ball - it was, until he got pushed.

Am I reading too much into the raising of the elbow in trying to determine whether there is a foul?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
Yes this one did cause debate. We have the luxury of video replay here
On balance I would agree that it could be called as a foul yet in the game context it did not cause any fuss and the player jumped up accepting it as a legal charge as did everyone else.
The alternative was probably a penalty kick and that would have created a major issue for the game. In the circumstances it is doubtful, no fuss was made of the non call as it was seen as a legal charge.
Sometimes it shows the power of doing nothing.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Brian,
foul interpretation is as much art & feel as it is science & physics. As a referee your opinion is paramount. If you think the arm was utilized unfairly & that is the standard by which YOU use if applied to both teams then that v intersection of applied physics must be a PK?
If you noted in some of the other videos the intersection is not always an easing off if BOTH players are moving at the same high speed in pursuit. It is in fact a collision of sorts, look at the faces of the two men does that look like a gentle nudging?

https://twitter.com/rtegaa/status/371645762448281600

The player on the right was actually injured in the exchange yet both players, referee and those playing had no issues with a no call as it was solid bone jarring legal tackle .


I am much more into the lead up if the arm is cocked AHEAD of the impact leading in with an elbow or a straight arm shiver. I watched the interaction in the video and saw no reason to blow as it was in my opinion a solid shoulder tackle accepted by the opponent who made no protests. In understanding that tolerance & acceptance of a certain degree of physicality is something players will endure & referees can accept as reasonable these conditions do vary at skill levels and even between national teams. One of the hardest games to referee would be a South American team & a European team as both teams have referee expectations that differ. You may have noticed the contentiousness at the recent WC?

All I can advise is try to recognize what is tolerated versus what you are willing to accept and call it the same for both teams, after all your decision your match your reputation is founded upon how you manage a game!
Cheers