Question Number: 33704

Law 18 - Common Sense 10/11/2019

RE: Competitive Adult

Jirka­ Strmiska of Brno, Czechia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 33696

Thanks,

I thought so, the problem is that when the defender plants his foot in front of the ball, he stands on it with a lot of weight with no further movement intended. It's like kicking into a steel wall. (the defender is also in all kinds of trouble since his bones are not made of steel). Whereas when you go for the ball in attempt to kick it away, you leg is not planted, it's in motion, so the contact isn't so dangerous. (The force of the kick just moves the defenders leg away, instead of somebody breaking something)

So the rules are actually quite logical in this case.

Thanks again

Jirka

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jirka
It is an easy call on paper yet in a game situation with both players perhaps injured through kicking and getting kicked it can be somewhat difficult. many times the foot is not planted yet in motion.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jirka,
just to go over one item. A planted foot in front of the ball is not a foul as it blocks the ball the equation is foot - ball -foot different them foot- foot-ball. If you see a tackle performed when face to face it is side foot on each side of the ball the ball is pinched and although often the bigger stronger or better positioned player can overwhelm a slighter player. Most often the ball pops up in-between. I find the foot -foot -ball is the stepping in from the side or slightly behind.

The foot planted, blocks the incoming foot, without touching the ball, the planted foot has created a foul. However if the planted foot had first knocked the ball away and is then kicked it is likely the kicker is the guilty party.

The hardest part is the reaction time and the swing through be it the force of the kicking leg or the follow through of the tackle trying to stop the kick. So much force, often in opposing directions or at such high speeds is utterly devastating and difficult to determine if one or the other was completely, partially or no fault .
Cheers