Question Number: 35858

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 1/7/2025

RE: Adult

Carl of Liverpool , UK asks...

Is it a penalty if a defender lying down behind a free kick wall accidentally trips up an attacker attempting to run on to a loose ball or save after the free kick is taken

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Carl,
That would be up to the referee to judge, based on the criteria stated in the laws. Whether it is accidental is not a criterion - the referee has to judge if it was careless or (probably less likely) reckless. I very much doubt that it would be seen as using an offence involving excessive force.

The law says that a careless offence is:

"... when a player shows a lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge or acts without precaution. No disciplinary sanction is needed."

So if the referee decides the player that was lying down has not paid enough attention to what was going on as the opponent approached them, or has not taken sufficient precautions to avoid a collision then they could call it as an offence. Alternatively, and depending on the circumstances, the referee might decide this was not careless but more of a simple "coming together" and not give a foul.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Carl
Thanks for the question.

The first point is that an attacker must be a minimum of 1 metre from the three player defensive wall. Typically that only happens in front of the wall.

I do not ever recall an attacker running through the defensive wall so I cannot really see it happening. I was always more concerned about the player getting trod on by a team mate!

Now in the event that the player on the ground does something more such as sticking out a leg to trip an opponent I cannot see a foul being called for simply being there and getting trod on or an opponent falling over the prone player accidentally.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Carl
a player already lying on the ground, well ahead of when an opponent is making a run?
In my opinion if the player steps on him or falls over him seems more his fault then the opponent already on the grass without the ball?

I suppose if the player down arose quicky making an effort to ensure the player could not get by, a foul is plausible but the referee must decide based on what he sees and what the LOTG allow!

I will add if a player lies down on the FOP behind a wall best be sure his arms are behind him as that is a deliberate action to prevent a low ball getting through when the wall jumps.

Cheers