Question Number: 33098

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/26/2019

RE: Under 14

jake of las vegas, nv usa asks...

what would happen if a player went rogue and was trying to intentionally score a goal on his own net and his own teammate intentionally slide tackles him from behind to stop him from doing it.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jake
Unlikely to happen very often so it is not going to challenge many referees.
However should it ever happen all the referee can do is enforce the Laws of the Game. He cannot prevent a player scoring an own goal. However it is likely to result in a very unpleasant situation between the team mates which may result in misconduct.
In addition a player cannot commit a foul on an opponent although he can be guilty of misconduct resulting in an appropriate card.
If it ever happens with a player going rogue against his team I think the best advice is to take firm control of the situation. The manner of the challenge will have a bearing on what the outcome will be. What transpires will dictate what happens and the restart.
I recall an EPL game involving Newcastle United where two team mates got involved in a fight on the field of play. After they were separated both players were sent off and the restart was an IDFK to the opponents.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FtcBH30DmM

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Jake,
a sulking or unhappy teammate creating misery could result in misconduct as it is in MY opinion against the spirit of the game even if not the laws. It would be rather sad that the referee would be forced to intercede due to USB or VC by his disgruntled teammates. Hopefully a quick substitution solves it but given any actions that are cardable between teammates is a form of misconduct resulting in a free kick . If the maverick player had DONE or SAID ANYTHING where I as referee could point to his actions as being USB. I could pull him up card him for USB and relax the substitution LOTG to remove him WITHOUT having to reduce them a player. But if you have not done so ahead of that send off style tackle? Chances are it a red card for VC free kick for the opposition sigh
Cheers
Richard

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Jake,
Although this is highly unlikely to occur, if it did it would depend on the exact nature of the tackle. As ref McHugh says, there is nothing a referee can do to stop a player trying to score an own goal (assuming they don't commit some kind of offence along the way) and if the tackle is clean and takes only ball, there would be nothing to penalise there either.

If the tackle were dangerous enough and especially if it involved forceful physical contact, the referee could penalise that as misconduct. Also if such an unexpected event did occur, it would likely lead to some kind of confrontation between the players afterwards, at which point the referee should intervene and take disciplinary action as appropriate.