Question Number: 15185

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/15/2007

RE: Adult

craig bickley of cambridge, england asks...

Are you allowed to go into any tackle with your studs showing, wether it be bottom of the ball or over the top. Example question:
If you go for a ball and slide in with studs showing at the player and win the ball but follow through and take the man. Is this a foul.?

Answer provided by Referee Nathan Lacy

Interesting question and one that continues to be the subject of many a lively conversation. Now here's a definitely wishy-washy answer for you - it all depends. I have seen tackles that have occurred with "studs showing" but which have in NO WAY endangered a player. I have also seen what I call "ankle breakers" of tackles using the "studs up" approach. It all depends on how the tackle is executed and if the tackling player has endangered the opponent by virtue of the cleats being exposed. This becomes a matter of the ref's determination at the time of the tackle bit I do have to say that if the tackle results in the tackling player "carrying through" with the cleats and getting the player this, in my book, is going to be a foul and most likely a card. An analogy might be that just because a player is playing the ball "on the ground" doesn't mean that they are guilty of dangerous play. It all depends on the position of other players on the field, etc. However, for me, more often than not the kind of tackle you describe will probably result in my whistle being blown. All the best,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Any tackle that endangers the safety of a player must be sanctioned as serious foul play. Thus if the referee feels that the tackle endangered the safety of a player, then a red card should be issued. There are lots of things that we as referees must look at here. I agree that if the tackled player carries through with cleats up and he makes contact with the player, then we have either a caution or send off in my book too.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Craig, the studs open challenge... sort of gets every one's knickers in a twist at one time or another. My thoughts, unless standing when challenging for the ball your studs are going to be open. You are in control of what they do, if you are going to constitute a danger pull out of the challenge. If you aren't going to constitute a danger continue.

NOW, the player has done what he needs to do -- time for the referee to earn his match fee! He has to position himself to see what is happening at the instant of the challenge, he must determine if what he sees is fair or foul and if foul to what degree is it foul then act according to his opinion. Sometimes his action is as little as nothing to get worried about BECAUSE the gent on the receiving end didn't seem all that bothered, it was trivial to HIM! Still the referee might consider a word to the gent offering his studs. This shows he saw, and had the same opinion as the one thinking trivial. At other times he is going to the back pocket as his whistle blows.

The referee needs to have the courage to do as necessary, nothing here to as far as off you go, mate. The off you go challenge might be the get the ball and several pounds of meat sort of thing -- clearly much more force than necessary to win the ball was evident, something called uses excessive force and that qualifies a player for an early bath.

To offer an answer Craig, it all depends.

Regards,