Question Number: 19114

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/17/2008

RE: Select Adult

Art Pieterman of London, Ontario Canada asks...

Gentlemen, my question is this. When the ball is in the air, and is in the process of falling to the earth, there is usually some jostling going on between a couple of the players as they are waiting for the ball to come down so that they can head the ball to a teammate. As a player is getting a "bead" on the descending ball, he is moving backwards, but an opponent is trying to do the same thing, but wants to move forward. Since the other player is in his way, he puts his hands out from his chest to stop the player from moving backwards. But the player that is moving backwards, tries to continue to move backwards, and the opponent is then trying harder to stop him from doing so, so much that it looks like he is pushing the other player.

Who is in the wrong? The player who wants to keep moving backwards, or the opponent who wants to head the ball also, and wants to be in the same spot as the other player, so he puts his hands up to stop him from continuing to move backwards?

I have seen other referees call it both ways. Some call the player for moving backwards, and others call the player for using his hands to impede the other player.

Could I have your opinion please?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Art,
It is quite possible for competing opponents to simultaneously foul the other just as it is for one to push backing in or the other to push coming forward. Some jostling could be considered as trifling and deemed acceptable as fair play by the referee and tolerated as reasonable by the players. The opinion can only be achieved by witnessing the actual event. Some things we are on the look out for is either player keying on the other or the ball? Is there body language in the set up? Overly aggressive posturing to deny space could be impeding the other. Is the FIRST to initiate contact deemed the creator of a foul? Players are entitled to take a position and occupy space and if PHYSICAL contact is initiated to deny them that is the instigator as often one player has a bit better position and the other is looking to retake the advantage. If you run over a standing still opponent while claiming to be looking up at the ball and the opponent already was standing still it is likely at minimum careless and even reckless or excessive depending on circumstances. If a defender sees the attacker looking over the shoulder and alters his position on the field to simply intercept the attacker’s position to make contact he has played the player not the ball and we can overlook run of the attacker not watching where one is going because the run started with no one there and it is obvious the attacker was keying on the ball just as it becomes obvious the defender keys on the attacker NOT getting through.
Cheers

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Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

What you need to determine Art is do the players consider what they are doing "Fair Play"? From there you have to manage things on a case by case basis.

I'm going to start with my voice and let them know I'm having a hard time with what they consider fair. If they tone things down then today I might allow that kind of bump and crunch with those two. If they don't tone things down I'll intervene pretty much like Ref Dawson explains. Note: we both have significant experience and based on that we'll usually be able to get away with much more than a 100 match referee.

Regards,

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