Question Number: 18023

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/28/2007

Stephen Fritz of Lexington, Kentucky United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 18007

I'm not really a fan of the "Four D's" solution [18007]. The keeper's obvious intent was to deny the player who beat him the opportunity to score a goal. That intent should be punished. I subscribe more generally to the "last-man" theory. If you commit a tactical foul as the last-man, you deserve to go. I assume that any player can run half the pitch without too much ill occuring. He may stumble, but mightn't he also stuble three feet out of the goal? Thanks for the answer.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I would have to agree with you on this one. I was at an Olympic match in Birmingham in 1996 and the following occurred. A defender in his own half but just barely deliberately handled the ball to prevent it going to an attacker that was around him and one on one with the keeper were he to get the ball. The attacker was onside when the ball was played. The defender was sent off for DOGSO. Distance is often important but if it's just green grass between the attacker and the goal I believe I'd send him off also.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Stephen whilst I concur with Ref Contarino's sentiments about applying advantage at the halfway line in the situation he cites I have great difficulty with your not being a fan of the "Four D's" solution. The reason is that it is the written policy of both FIFA and US Soccer.

In addition to the four D's US Soccer wrote many years ago FIFA have now added this to that list:

The offence which denies an opponent an obvious goalscoring
opportunity may be an of offence that incurs a direct free kick or an indirect free kick.

If you are a referee licensed by US Soccer or AYSO you carry a license that allows you to work in any country in the world at the level you are currently skilled enough to referee. If you are licensed only by NFHS or NISOA then you must believe as they require and you are not blessed with a license FIFA recognize because they have no affiliation with US Soccer, the governing body of Association Football in America. If you hold a license from any organization you MUST uphold their written policies whether you agree with them or not.

If you profess to be able to judge intent in the mind of a footballer you're a better man than all the members of the International Panel of Referees. They can't judge intent, they can only judge the result of what someone has done.

Also if licensed by US Soccer you might want to read ATR 12.28.1 bullet 4 to see what a "tactical foul" is and how it is punished. The "last man" theory is a myth perpetuated by television commentators because they know no different. The 4 D's tell a referee when to send-off a player for denying an obvious goal or goal scoring opportunity by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick. I would prefer you follow the policies of US Soccer rather than the myth of "last-man" theory. But, that's just me speaking -- it's your match, your decision and your reputation at stake, not mine.

Regards,