Question Number: 35904

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 4/13/2025

RE: Competitive Under 16

Matt of Portland , OR US asks...

Hello. I really need your insight into whether this constituted a foul. It ended up costing us a game last night. Here’s the scenario. Attacking forward has a clear line to goal and is running 100% and is now in the penalty box. Defender is running full speed at an angle to block or make a tackle. Forward is in the process of taking a shot when defender lunges in front of the ball and gets his foot planted (not contact yet with the ball). The ball ricocheted off defenders foot but also ends up tripping the shooter and causing also a severe body collision. Shooter had to come off due to injury.

Thank you for your wisdom!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Matt
Thanks for the question
What you describe is not an offence.
The defender has not made foul contact with an attacker and the lunge has simply stopped the ball and then a coming together of both players. The manner of the challenge may have looked contentious yet that in itself is not an offence. The defender has to do something more than simply stop the ball in a combative manner.
There can be times when the lunge is at the opponent in a manner that is an attempt to trip, kick, strike an opponent which is an offence punished by a direct free kick and most likely a card depending on the manner of the contact. Your description does not suggest to me that type of offence with no player contact but rather coming together after stopping the ball most referees will not see an offence. Indeed one can argue that the defenders action which stopped the ball only that the contact was the result of momentum by the attacker into the defender which unfortunately caused an injury.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hello Matt,

I agree with Referee McHugh. From your description, no foul occurred. The defender got into position to stop the play. As indicated, the defender was in front of the attacker with the ball and the contact on the foot of the attacker came from the ball not the defender. There is no charging or tripping by the defender.

Unfortunately, the collision occurred and the shooter got injured. Hopefully, the injury is not a bad one and the player will return

I am curious what the call was and how it cost you the game. Was your team the defenders or the attackers?

I do wish you team success in future games.