Question Number: 13305

Character, Attitude and Control 7/10/2006

RE: Middle School Adult

Paul Burch of New Hartford, CT USA asks...

Ok..OK..the world cup competition is the highest level of play...most times however, do not the laws of the game apply consistently between U5 play to world cup play (no withstanding the permissible modifications)??? Law 12, Decision 4 (new for 2005-2006) requires that a player be santioned for SFP (i.e. red card - send off) for a "...tackle, which endangers the safety of an opponent...". How is it then that these types of fouls (tackles from behind)were sanctioned with yellow cards? Was this considered unsporting conduct rather than SFP?? The message this has given our youth will be with us referees at the youth level for many years....all because of the manner in which the laws of the game were interpreted during the world cup. Am I close to the mark here or have I missed something significant??

Regards,

Paul

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Paul you might have been listening too closely to the ESPN/ABC talking heads. All these things are in the opinion of the referee and if the referee has the opinion it is Unsporting Behavior rather than Serious Foul Play then so be it.

Problem is they, the talking heads, must have been paid by the word to broadcast such a load of crap from the bully pulpit. Now we, in the trenches, will have no end to the verbal harassment from the skulls full of mush that believed what they heard on the TV.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

One of these guys during the final let loose with the wisdom that ANY tackle from behind, even if only the ball was touched has to be a foul according to FIFA. On ANY tackle, if the referee decides the player's safety is endangered, it's a red card. What you have been seeing is World Cup referees deciding tackle were reckless and consequently showing the yellow card.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The key word is IF THE REFEREE DECIDES. The announcers try to make it black and white and it's not that simple. The referee has to evaluate the nature of the tackle and decide if it is deserving of a red card. As a colleague pointed out, the commentors showed their ignorance when saying any tackle from behind must be a foul. FIFA actually took out the word behind last year and its just any tackle WHICH ENDANGERS the safety of an opponent. In the opinion of the referee, did the tackle endager the safety of an opponent?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Paul,
I think your opinion has merit! The incorrect perceptions and myths perpetuated throughout the WC by the announcers was disheartening to say the least. I must admit there were yellow cards issued for tackles where my gut said red while watching. However as my colleagues point out the referee for that match sets the standard it is easy to reproach from a warm seat and a cold drink to a TV set!
The two key points are
(1)ANY tackle, not just from behind that is excessive in the force used or brutal in its application is red cardable
and
(2) the fact that USB and reckless nature are bedfellows and cautionable with yellow plastic!!

In my opinion if there is no reasonable opportunity to actually make a play for the ball if I see no pull out or attempt to avoid unnecessary contact we are on yellow alert due to the reckless nature or deliberate act of fouling to break up attacking play.

In those late tackles where players go to ground and extend legs and lock feet are easily red if forceful or without due regard for the opponent. Two footed or one footed cleats exposed jump ins towards the legs or body of an opponent require a POSITIVE Strong message of red every time. Even if such tackles miss or the player jumps out of the way in time these actions MUST be abolished from the field of play

Decision 1
A player who commits a cautionable or sending-off offence, either on or off the field of play, whether directed towards an opponent, a team-mate, the referee, an assistant referee or any other person, is disciplined according to the nature of the offence committed
Serious Foul Play
A player is guilty of serious foul play if he uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when challenging for the ball when it is in play.
Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force and endangering the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.

Violent Conduct
Violent conduct may occur either on the field of play or outside its
boundaries, whether the ball is in play or not. A player is guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball.
He is also guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against a team-mate or any other person.

All I can suggest Paul is as a referee you maintain a consistent approach in every game that you do to stamp out the malicious nature of carnage that too many like to excuse as part of the game. Cheers