Question Number: 14906

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 2/26/2007

RE: competitive High School

Dan Wybo of London o, Onatrio Canada asks...

We used to have a indirect restart for the infraction of obstructing an opponent.
However obstruction can no longer be found anywhere in the rules.
it has been replaced by


"impedes the progress of an opponent"


Many coaches and even players still react to a play be calling REf ! Obstruction !

I explain that obstruction no longer exists as a indirect foul.

However, is obstruction the same as "impedes the progress of an opponent"


In other words when is it clear that the players progress has been impeded ?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Yup Dan, obstruction went away in 1997. It was difficult to translate this word into many languages. The phrase "Impeding the progress of an opponent" works better. It means getting in the way so each language has something that covers that one.

When coaches yell "obstruction" they are displeased with an opponent holding one of their guys and we all know that is a load of kaka. Getting in the way still doesn't involve touching, it remains preventing an opposing player from freely moving on the park.

Tell them FIFA has it in writing, somewhere, obstruction no longer exists and you can't call it any more. That usually quiets them until they figure out you're having them off.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

Ref Fleischer is right on the mark. The only addition I would make to his statements is that the impeding should be a deliberate act by the opponent. By that I mean that the opponent should have actively and knowingly made an effort to get in the way of the player as to keep them from having a reasonable play on the ball. If the normal sequence of events results in a player ending up in the way OR the player is simply standing in place which ends up being in the way then this does NOT constitute impeding. Of course each event must be judged on its own merit and you, as the referee, have the final say. All the best,