Question Number: 35127

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/30/2023

RE: Adult

Mühenned Elseyho of Onikisubat, Kahramanmara Turkey asks...

The attacker shoots the ball while it is at arm's height above the ground, and at this moment the defender steps in with the bottom of his shoe and just touches the ball, trying to prevent him from shooting. Is this behavior considered a mistake?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mühenned
Raised boots are always difficult decisions. Raised boots with studs showing runs a high risk of an offence if the player makes contact with an opponent who is trying to take a shot in a raised ball situation.
Each situation will be different and the referee has to decide what happened. A raised boot with the studs showing towards the ball will certainly look risky and very likely to be called even playing in a dangerous manner.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mühenned,
raised stiff legged studs up challenges particularly when jumping into or moving towards an opponent have a high degree of high risk low reward. Defenders do what it takes to block a shot and in context you can often see that the ball is sought not the opponent. Yet they can not block the shot by coming over the ball and grinding studs into the opponents' ankles or shins in what we call an over the top challenge, that rarely ends well . Injuries red cards send offs! sigh! . You can make an iffy challenge, catch all ball and hopefully no contact occurs. It is often a foot to foot or foot to leg contact on the follow through where such tackles are scrutinized for who is at fault, kicking into or arriving late to the party!
Cheers

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

See Question: 35132