Question Number: 14935

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/4/2007

RE: Rec/Competitive Adult

Les Sicherman of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 14922

Thank you for your response [to 14922]. My follow up question to my previous one is: Does soccer carry a parrallel rule or situation as in basketball, whereby, if a player establishes a position (under the basket)... an opposing player cannot crash into him while trying to score a basket no matter if the basket is scored before or after the foul. As in soccer...if a player is performing a scissors kick at head level; does legal contact with the ball followed by a dangerous follow-through to the head of a player(having established his position) constitute a foul?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Kicking is a foul. Pushing is a foul. Charging is a foul - although it can also be done in a legal manner, generally shoulder-to-shoulder. If a player has an established position, an opponent cannot simply barrel through because she wants to get to the other side.

If the referee sees the action as careless, reckless, or done with excessive force, a foul should be called.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Historically, players are entitled to the ground on which they stand. They can not be moved from that ground unless the ball can be, immediately, played after a shoulder to shoulder challenge. Football is a funny old Game and players are expected to be gentlemen at all times.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You cannot, as in basketball, draw a charge. In soccer you would either be impeding the progress of an opponent or holding if contact were made. As to the bicycle kick, depends on the circumstances and most of us would answer we'd have to be there.