Question Number: 14964

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/9/2007

RE: Rec and Select Other

George Smith of Flower Mound, TX US asks...

I have read guidelines from FIFA and press releases from FIFA stating that all tackles from behind should be considered dangerous play and are outlawed.

I have also read that "behind" is to be interpreted to mean any where outside of the field of vision of the tackled player.

It seems pretty non-ambiguous to me. But, many refs that I talk to don't think that a proper tackle (I.E. all ball ) from behind is necessarily even a foul, much less a send off offense.

So, I guess my question is. How should the FIFA mandate be interpreted?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Here is what you should be reading, from Law 12, IFAB Decision 4:

A tackle, which endangers the safety of an opponent, must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

FIFA recently (last year or two) removed the words "from behind" so the Decision now reads as Ref Fleischer has quoted. The words were removed because so many believed as you did, that any tackle from behind was illegal. FIFA wants us to concentrate on the danger rather than the direction.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Where did you read this? FIFA NEVER considered any tackle as "dangerous play" and they NEVER intended to imply it was impossible to make a clean tackle from behind. ANY tackle that endangers the safety of an opponent must be sanctioned as serious foul play but certainly not Playing In a Dangerous Manner.