Question Number: 16836

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/22/2007

RE: club soccer Under 15

bob delacerda of moorpark, ca ventura asks...

if the attacker does a breakaway and has only the goalie between her and the goal, goalie comes out of the box, slide tackles her opponent and toches the ball, what should be the foul outcome?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

From your description, it is impossible to tell. There may have been no foul/offense at all or there could have been anything from a simple direct free kick for an offense to a direct free kick with a sending off/red card for denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Slide tackles are legal, as long as they are not endangering the safety of an opponent - and usually, if the tackler gets the ball first, keeping the other leg on the ground and making no attempt for the attacker but all attempt at the ball, there is no offense to be called. It is all in the opinion of the referee as to whether or not the criteria for an offense have been met.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I am concerned that you said the goalkeeper "slide tackles her opponent". I hope this does not mean that she planted her foot into the opponent's leg! That certainly would be a foul and at least a caution, probably a red card for serious foul play.

However if you meant that she executed a slide tackle that took the ball away from the opponent, then please read Ref Maloney's answer.

If there was a foul but it did not meet the criteria of reckess or excessive force, it might be a red card for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity. That would depend on the referee's judgement on several criteria as to whether a goal was likely or not.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Each challenge must be judged on its own merits and the goalkeeper making a challenge for the ball is evaluated the same as an outfield player making the same try for the ball. Remember that a tackle is for the ball and the ball must be touched before the opponent is. Should the opponent come first that, in itself, is foul play. Other things to watch for are what happens after a successful tackle for the ball, kicking and tripping or the attempt at either are foul play as well. That is what the referee must decide and all he has to draw from is his experience and knowledge to date.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

From what you've described, there may not even be a foul. You state the ball was touched on a tackle but give no other information. Tackling is perfectly legal unless done in a careless or reckless manner or putting the safety of an opponent at risk. So, from what you describe, anything from no call to a sending off is possible but we simply do not have enough information to answer.