Question Number: 20631

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 12/4/2008

RE: Select Under 19

Dave E of Clarkston, WA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20628

In the new version of the LOTG, 'making
contact with the opponent before contacting the ball' has been dropped but should be considered as now incorporated in the tackling offense.

Does that change the way we should evaluate tackles as being fair or foul?

Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

No. Tackles have always had to be considered careless in order to be considered foul. Contacting the opponent before the ball is at least careless. I believe FIFA had the original wording to make it simple, you get the player before the ball it's a foul. Referees had no problem understanding this but players and coaches somehow in an incredible leap of illogic decided it meant that if you got the ball first there could be no foul. Hence the everpresent rant 'but I got the ball first' that you can hear at virtually any soccer match. By eliminating the words, hopefully we will someday no longer hear how the player got the ball first.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

IFAB issued this under a reorganization and clarification of the Laws. They did not list it as a specific law change. So, while it may be a change for many, it is apparent that this is the way they *thought* we should have been doing it all along. Perhaps someone on the committee heard, 'But I got the ball!' once too often.