Question Number: 32819

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/20/2018

RE: 7 Adult

Clive Donald of Doncaster, S.Yorkshire asks...

Winger has ran into the penelty area and he is slightly ahead of the 2 defenders. He puts in a low cross then both defenders slide in and do not touch the ball and makes contact with player deemed as reckless tackle. The passed ball went to the CB. I gave a penelty because anywhere else on the pitch its a yellow card for reckless tackle. If it was defender clearing the ball and the striker did that you would be ridiculed for not giving the free kick.

I know these are not given because in the penelty area I have seen premiership referees say he got his shot off or he got his cross away. Just saw hazard against United 21/10/18 put cross in and had careless tackle after and referee gave nothing.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Clive
Thanks for the question.
Referees always need to be careful to distinguish between fouls and coming togethers. As described by yourself that is a late tackle, a foul punished by a direct free kick or penalty kick. It is also a caution to boot if not something more.
I saw the Hazard incident and I am not sure Young was responsible for all of the contact. Hazard with his follow through, with both players going in the same direction, added to the contact. I also think that he went over on his ankle rather than serious contact from Young?
Now Referee Mike Dean looked at it and probably with some doubt just allowed play to continue.
Now this type of question has been asked before many times. In my previous answers I referred to the focus of attention by the referee. Many times when a shot / pass / cross is got away the players just come together and there is no appeal or concern about a foul. Focus is on the ball and outcome. When the focus of attention though is solely on the challenge then with the exception of advantage that should be called as a foul and more than likely a card.
It is part of the way that the game is played in that the focus in the penalty area situations tends to be on the ball rather than any contact.
In the same game Mata was cautioned for a late challenge. It looked worse than it actually was yet the focus was on the lateness. I would say the same tackle inside the penalty area would and should draw a penalty as the focus will be on the challenge rather than the ball.
There can be doubtful ones and referees tend not to give those. You might recall late on there was a challenge by Lindelof on Giroud close to the goal line inside the goal area. A goal kick was awarded. On review it looked like little contact by Lindelof on the back of the attacker and more like Giroud stumbled with the United player having to come over the player who is now on the ground. If anything it was at worse a coming together and more likely nothing as just a stumble while playing the ball.
I hope that helps.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Clive
it would seem it is almost an acceptance by players if you get shot off inside the PA a bit of follow though pain seems to be tolerated partly because the ball is often out of play so no foul only misconduct, which if true & was being punished would be only a card. Still if if that tackle is very late excessive & or reckless now it becomes more of a reason to find more at fault here! We can find some leeway in a coming together but I agree several players get away with cheap shots at times. If the ball had NOT yet gone out of play a PK is correct and at times well deserved!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Clive,
While there is certainly some truth in what you say about how these challenges are often seen, I also think it's a slight exaggeration to say that they are just 'not given' and that this is because they are in the penalty area. As ref Dawson points out, sometimes when a shot is taken and a late challenge comes in, the ball is out of play before the contact occurs. On other occasions, as ref McHugh alludes to, there is either an element of advantage being played or the challenge being more of a 'coming together' than an actual offence.

There are however some occasions where I would agree that late challenges committed just as a player gets a shot or a dangerous cross away from within the penalty area are treated a little differently than they would be if the same challenge were made in a different area of the field, when they probably shouldn't be. It's perhaps not quite as black and white as you describe it, though.