Question Number: 17457

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/22/2007

RE: D1 Under 14

Tim Barth of Houston, TX US asks...

A forward and a defender are competing at about the 18 for a thru-ball passed toward the goal. The defender and forward are side by side, each trying to get to the ball. The defender puts her arm out, not pushing, but in front of the neck of the attacking forward so as to keep the forward from beating her to the ball. Is this obstruction or legal play? I asked the referee after the game and he explained that yes, that is technically obstruction but that "you'll never get a call like that" because the punishment (a indirect kick at the 18?) doesn't fit the crime.
- Is it legal play?
- Is he correct that this would never be called?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Tim just because the referee made the statement he did doesn't make what happened within the Law. To me an arm against the neck is holding and something, if I can see pressure applied, that would instantly get a whistle for a direct free kick and a caution! Reason? That arm can do serious harm to the neck and I'm just not all that thrilled with having a broken player who may not be able to breathe laying on my field.

Now a referee saying that something is "technically obstruction" shows me a referee who hasn't taken a refresher since 1996! Obstruction changed to Impeding the progress of an opponent in 1997. Further, had that referee read further in the old Laws he would have found this:

"If a player intentionally stretches his arms to obstruct an opponent and steps from one side to the other, his arms moving up and down to delay his opponent, forcing him to change course, but does not make "bodily contact" the referee shall caution the player for ungentlemanly conduct and award an indirect free kick."

So we see the referee was incorrect in naming the offence and incorrect in what he should do when he sees what you describe and, I believe, incorrect in his method of dealing with the foul play.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

No, he is not correct that this will never be called, and no, it is not legal play! Ref Fleischer could hardly have done a better job in explaining what needs to be seen and how it should be dealt with on the field. Now, knowing what you know, remember it is not your place to be telling the referee this during the game! :-) It would be great if you'd get yourself to a referee class and help us out.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Not only is the referee incorrect in what he said, he has the offence wrong. This is holding and will be called inside or outside the penalty area if the referee believes it to have occurred. A referee that refuses to call fouls inside the penalty area does the game a disservice. The fact that the holding is in a very vulnerable area makes a no call even worse. I agree with Ref Fleischer, when I see an arm out that high I'm immediately thinking a card of some sort and at least a foul. Since inside the penalty area it's prudent to wait a second to see if a shot gets taken cleanly. If not, blow that whistle.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

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