Question Number: 15074

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 3/29/2007

RE: Travel Under 12

Ramon Janeiro of wilimington, DE usa asks...

An attacker is dribbling to goal, he is inside the 18 and is ready to take a shot on goal, the defender steps in front of his leg and prevents him from taking a shot, does not play the ball, and the attacker kicks him in the back of the leg, is this a penalty, dangerous play or did the referee make the right call? The referee did not make a call. I felt it should have been a penalty shot.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ramon,
In truth I need to see it to be sure. If a defender gets position and steps in front of an opponent that is not of itself a foul if the ball is within playing distance. There is nothing about the situation which leads me to think PIADM (playing in a dangerous manner ) or impeding both which are only INDFKs NOT PKs are in play here. It is possible an attempt to trip with a leg stuck in could be a DFK thus PK but you can not punish the defender if he was trying to play the ball that got a bit too far ahead of his opponent? It could even be a foul on your player if the referee thought so for the kick. It sort of appears the defender took one for the team and the referee felt the same!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Don't know, wasn't there. I will say this: if contact was made, it was NOT playing in a dangerous manner which would have resulted in an IFK. If the referee believed the defender had carelessly kicked or tripped the opponent, this would have resulted in a PK. Obviously, the referee thought the contact to be incidental.