Question Number: 19525

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/26/2008

RE: competetive, Rec, Select College

Louis of New Castle, De USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19288

I have always been under the impression that a tackle from behind is still just as dangerous even when the primary contatct was with the ball. Mainly due to a player's lack of vision from behind and ability to brace or prepare for a sliding tackle is impared. Of course this would vary depending on the level of play, but would it be fair to say that a players ability to take a tackle and the manner in which a tackle is executed should be taken into consideration, even when contact was made with the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Tackling a player, whether before or after contact with the ball, is a foul. This is reflected in the 2008-9 version of the Laws of the game, where Law 12 says, 'A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force: //snip// tackles an opponent'

'From behind' was removed from the Laws a couple years ago, because too many referees were focusing on the direction of the tackle rather than the severity and danger. Instead, Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees says, 'A tackle that endangers the safety of an opponent must be sanctioned as serious foul play.'

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Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Referees must remember that a tackle in this Game is directed AT the ball and when done properly the ball may be won when approached from any direction. The difficulty lies in the skill needed to accomplish this task from all points of the compass. We all know that the only way opponents may touch, legally, is shoulder to shoulder before the ball is touched. Going through an opponent to win the ball just isn't according to Hoyle. As Ref Voshol states the Law has changed in this area so today [after 1 July 2008] when a player tackles he must do so carefully.

I hate to say it, but television commentators will be more correct in their manner of speech; they say a caution was for a reckless tackle today. Tomorrow they'll be correct even though they won't know why. Still when a player makes contact with the ball and the opponent trips over the ball there can be NO FOUL play. Even though it looks excessively forceful the ball has done the dirty work, not the player. A tackle touching the opponent first is still going to be foul play, abet it is careless now. Referees have always been able to recognize tackles approaching reckless and excessive so I don't see too much difference in how we judge what we see.

The difficulty will be in how the player approaches the tackle and in that we may see a surge in the appearance of plastic until they learn a new way to play.

Regards,

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