Question Number: 16155

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/29/2007

RE: Adult

Ramy Nagah of Alexandria, Alexandria Egypt asks...

What if the players of a team are dancing while the game is played. (dancing while there's no danger on their side)

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I would hope that they are so busy dancing that they miss when the opponents gain control of the ball and launch a counterattack. Keep their minds on the game, and they can go dancing when the game is over.

If the referee regards the dancing to be taunting or provoking the other team, it should be cautioned as unsporting behavior.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Could this be the famous gesticulating the Laws refereed to prior to 1997? Then dancing in front of a thrower, gesticulation, was frowned upon and considered ungentlemanly conduct. So too at the taking of a free kick. Dancing about or gesticulation in a manner calculated to distract or impede the kicker or thrower was deemed ungentlemanly conduct for which the offender[s] shall be cautioned and upon repetition sent-off.

Today the offence remains but is unwritten. Examples of this are jumping up and down in a defensive wall, jumping up and down at the taking of a throw-in, jumping up and down at the taking of a penalty kick. These things are still unsporting behaviour and still a caution for the player[s] involved is fair discipline for the act.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the referee considers it unsporting, then he can caution each player participating. Otherwise, nothing is done.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Gesticulation. That is such a wonderful word - I hated it when FIFA took it out of the Laws! By the way, what did you mean by dancing? A conga line, twist and shout, fancy footwork, what? I'm wondering if the dancing was taking place after a goal as part of a celebration? If so, and assuming it didn't delay the restart of the game or in some way unsportingly taunted or provoked the other team, no worries. If it was in celebration, and did delay or become unsporting, the referee has the tools to deal with the misconduct. This is just another possibility to add to what Referees Voshol, Fleischer and Mueller have said. Then again, if they are dancing and not playing, who cares except maybe their coach, fans and teammates? And in that case, nothing the referee can do will match what they face when the game is over!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

A texas two step, Conga, belly dance, break or river dancing? Adults mixed couple soccer for singles? LOL! ;o)
Celebrating a goal we allow a bit of shimmy shake rattle and rock and roll. During the match a bit of high step exuberance might pass us by but if the actions were USB to ridicule or create disctraction a caution show a yellow card could be used to put a halt to such action. As to what teammates, fans and coach will think as it relates in a workable tactical to win a match is anybody's quess!
Cheers