Question Number: 34266

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 7/13/2021

RE: High School

Jeremy of houston, tx usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 34265

Thank you guys for the responses. I attempted to make a diagram to show the situation.

https://i.imgur.com/HGklji8.png

O is the ball, arrow above it is attack direction, A is attacker, D is defender. Basically, A put the touch 5-10 yards up the field, while D who is a yard or two away from attacker doesn't even attempt to play the ball, just plants leg in ground right in front of attacker, which causes attacker to have to jump out of way of planted leg, delay run by running around leg, etc. Whichever it is, the attacker would have had a clear promising attack and easy YC SPA to defender if contact had been made, but technically there is no contact yet I still felt that the actions of the defender attempting to trip the attacker completely stopped the promising attack as attacker was significantly slowed, falls down due to jumping out of way, etc.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jeremy,
we are always glad to help and appreciate the kind words.
If the defender created a situation where there WAS no advantage in the attack could not continue, or the ball was going out of play, or the defenders were about to intercept, then YES it was a clear foul. Award the DFK for attempting to trip is a correct logical outcome & call. Pretty cut & dried. At the minimum, a careless attempt by the defender CAUSED the attacker to lose ball possession. A simple free-kick solves it! No DOGSO given the location & circumstances.

If the tackle was cynical or reckless in nature then a caution could be warranted and the yellow card is shown, but as in any tool we use to effect safety & order in a match the NEED to do so must be clear! There are reasons to caution but setting the bar too low to start creates additional man-management pressures as the game develops its character.
Each incident is a composite of the match itself and tells us one of 3 things?

The incident is unusual in there was no real issue to be worried about & at worst a careless action perhaps with a heads up talking too.

The incident while perhaps not indicative of the character of the player or match has too much effect by setting a standard that can not be permitted & an example needs to be made tearing a strip might work but here is where that 1st caution lives & breaths 50% of the time. These are often referred to as "Critical Match Incidents"

The incident compounded an already disagreeable problem (as in #2) that has already affected the match or is so reprehensible & unsafe on its own that it will result in severe repercussions. The talks you so graciously bestowed on the player earlier in the match did not work so that 1st yellow card, she be a coming 100% for sure! If already on a caution there is even greater reason to show the 2nd caution thus red card given your early warnings of talking and cautioning did NOT affect the behavior. Of course, if the act was reprehensible, malicious with elements of DOGSO, SFP, or VC then direct red is the proper choice. No time to talk or send a message that has been completely ignored!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jeremy
Thanks for the follow up and the diagram
Each situation will be entirely different as would context.

In a tight game with emotions high a caution may be required to keep a tight lid on match control. On a one sided game in the last minutes a card may not be needed or the best decision.
A player who is clumsy and has not intent to foul or stop an attack may be treated differently from a player who cynically comes across to stop the attack and fails to make contact yet the manner of the attempt is potentially reckless. That is an infraction and a card compared to the mistake that happens to make an opponent stumble.

If a referee feels that the action was an infraction then call same and if it merits a card so be it. Players will say I never touched him to which I say that contact is not required and in a card situation I advise the player that had he contacted the player it could have had serious consequences or in the case of an SPA the infraction did just that.

As to the threshold for sanction that is a matter for the referee on the day. I like to pose this question to referees.
If the player was already on a caution would you send the player off for a second caution? I know some referees don't care about that yet for me it was the measure of a sanction or not in questionable situations.