Question Number: 33591

8/21/2019

RE: Competitive Under 13

Jenny Smit of Ottawa, Canada asks...

I saw this situation while reffing: A red player had the ball, then two blues challenged for the ball from either side of him, 'sandwiching' the red player between them.

Being squished between 2 opponents, red fell down and lost possession. But was it a foul? There wasn't pushing or charging, but I still feel like being crushed between 2 opponents was unfair for red.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Jenny,
The situation you describe was covered (more or less) by the IFAB a few years ago in a document published by FIFA commonly referred to as the Q&A. It went as follows:

''Q. Is it permitted for two or more players to challenge an opponent at the same time?

A. Yes, provided the challenges were legal.''

So basically, the ruling is that no matter whether it is one or two players challenging an opponent, the normal criteria apply. If one or both of the challenges is careless, reckless or uses excessive force, it's a foul - if they don't meet those criteria, it's not a foul.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Jenny,
it is an astute observation, although unlikely it is possible for two opponents to fairly charge a single opponent from a well placed shoulder on either side. The timing must be impeccable, the force more of an easing off as opposed two guys running in at angle and lowering the boom on an actual charging foul. Nor can the free arms can not reach across or push or grab as the squeeze then becomes a form of holding or pushiness. It OK to deny space as you challenge a ball within playing distance. Just watch for the legs not to lock in step and override the opponent as a tripping or kicking action whilst trying to play the ball
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jenny
The contact between the players is always a judgement call for the referee to make.
Now there is nothing wrong per se with a simultaneous challenge by two defenders on an opponent at the same time. The question is whether one or both of the player committed one of the listed offences on the opponent in the challenge.
Now player can go to ground for a variety of reasons some of which are not a foul. You say that in your example there was no pushing or charging and I assume no pull, trip, kick so it was unlikely that there was any foul. Did the Red player lose balance because of location, did the contact unsettle the players stride, was the contact side to side enough to make the player lose balance? As a referee I quickly try to assess player normal playing actions. Some underage players I see go to ground easily perhaps due to poor footwear, some just fall easily, the pitch condition can be slippy etc. I factor these into my decision making. I know some players that go to ground easily when they lose the ball so my threshold for those players is higher than the player I know that rarely goes to ground and in fact does their upmost to stay up.
In my game during the week an attacker was in somewhat similar position yet the two defender wedged him from going forward in which was for me was holding so I gave a free kick. Now later in the game the same player was in the penalty area and he tried to go between two player into a gap that for me did not exist. He got the ball through but for me then went to ground easily looking for a penalty. I did not give it.
The game by it nature has physical contact and that contact is not always a foul. In fact many times it is rarely an offence until it becomes obvious that one of the penal offences has been committed. If the referee does not see an offence then it is play on.