Question Number: 33318

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/6/2019

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

This question is a follow up to question 33277

Hello,

one video from today's match Man City vs. Leicester.

2nd half (video time 49:56, match time 92:55).

http://fullmatchsports.com/manchester-city-vs-leicester-city-highlights-full-match/?tab=second-half

Isn't Zinchenko doing an illegal thing? (in the meaning of the previous question number 33277)

Thank you very much!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Petr,
I get what you are saying , the push and arm lunge, he was in behind his teammate forcing the defender to go around, he was trying to impede the defender while not actually playing the ball. It was brief but I agree it was solely done to stop the #14 defender from trying to get out and around to challenge. It was not terribly successful & no one seemed too concerned. If you are asking COULD it be an INDFK it could but it seemed rather trifling
Good spot through. .
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Petr
I recall earlier in the season giving one of those in the corner much to the chagrin of the attacking team. I explained that the non ball player was impeding as he cannot stop a defender from getting to the ball. Move such a scenario out to the open and it is a very obvious offence.
So yes it was technically a foul yet probably in real time in the corner it was always going to be hard to spot due to being close to the action with screening. Having said that Referee Mike Dean should have been ultra strict in that situation as the potential for all sorts was very high. It pains me to see players running to the corner with the ball to use of time. Perfectly legal yet poor form. I adopt zero tolerance in there by the attacking team.
Now For the life of me I could not understand why Referee Dean did not blow it up at the foul just after that throw in. He went through setting up a ceremonial free kick with foam vanishing spray to then blow it up when the ball was kicked? What did he think was going to happen?
All in all Referee Dean had a good game. The only point that I took away was that he was influenced by the crowd on Schmeichel goal kicks and he spoke to him in the first half yet the amount of time wasting by City after they scored was extreme in comparison. A few corner kicks took forever and it was mentioned on by the commentators on one kick. Throw in the time taken for substitutions and it was surprising that only 3 minutes was found. I guess as Leicester had nothing really to play for that they were not really bothered and perhaps that was a factor I firmly believe that the game needs to address these type of situation. I would introduce use it or lose it plus I look forward to players leaving the FOP at the closest boundary . The Aguero substitution was a slow walk off, even stopped to pull down his socks, shin pads with some mention of a leg strain to justify it all! I think that the modern game requires a fame clock like rugby. It might put a stop to some of the nonsense that goes on.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Petr,
I'm not sure there was anything there at all, but if there was, it was not in the meaning of question 33277. That question talked about multiple team mates, all with the ball within playing distance, impeding opponents. Zinchenko here had one opponent and one team mate between him and the ball so he definitely was not shielding the ball and did not have it within playing distance. There was a very slight touch/pull on an opponent as he tried to get closer to the ball but not enough to be called as a foul, in my opinion.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 33323