Law Changes 16/17 - Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

[Guest]

12.1 Infringements when the ball is not in play

Additional text
Direct and indirect free kicks and penalty kicks can only be awarded for fouls and misconduct committed whilst the ball is in play.

Explanation
A definitive statement (from the interpretations section) that the ball must be in play for misconduct to be penalised with a free kick or penalty kick.

 

12.2 Direct free kick – add ‘challenges’

Old Text
A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force
• tackles an opponent

New Text
A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force • tackles or challenges an opponent.

Explanation
’tackles’ implies a challenge with the foot but some challenges can be with other parts of the body (e.g. knee) and technically were not covered.

 

12.3 Contact means direct free kick

Additional text
If an offence involves contact it is penalised by a direct free kick or penalty kick.

Explanation
Clarifies that a direct free kick must be awarded if an offence involves contact.

 

12.4 Reckless – removal of ‘complete’ from definition

Old Text
Reckless means that the player has acted with complete disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, his opponen(…) (…) must be cautioned

New Text
Reckless is when a player acts with disregard to the danger to, or consequences for, an opponent and must be cautioned.

Explanation
There were legal concerns about the meaning /relevance of ‘complete’

 

12.5 Serious foul play– removal of ‘far’ from definition

Old Text
Using excessive force means that the player has far exceeded the necessary use of force and is in danger of injuring his opponent(…) (…) must be sent off.

New Text
Using excessive force is when a player exceeds the necessary use of force and endangers the safety of an opponent and must be sent off.

Explanation
There were legal concerns about the meaning/relevance of ‘far’

 

12.6 Direct free kick – add ‘impedes an opponent with contact’

Additional text
A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offences:
• impedes an opponent with contact

Explanation
Confirmation that impeding an opponent with contact is a direct free kick.

 

12.7 Impeding without contact means indirect free kick

Old Text
An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if(…) (…)a player impedes the progress of an opponent.

New Text
An indirect free kick is awarded if(…) a player impedes the progress of an opponent without any contact being made.

Explanation
Confirmation that impeding an opponent without contact is an indirect free kick.

 

12.8 Authority to take disciplinary action from pre-match inspection of the field (see 5.4)

Old Text
The referee has the authority to take disciplinary sanctions from the moment he enters the field of play until he leaves the field of play after the final whistle.

New Text
The referee has the authority to take disciplinary action from entering the field of play for the pre-match inspection until leaving the field of play after the match ends (including kicks from the penalty mark). If, before entering the field of play at the start of the match, a player commits a sending-off offence, the referee has the authority to prevent the player taking part in the match (see Law 3.6); the referee will report any other misconduct.

Explanation
Same change as outlined and explained in Law 5 (see 5.4)

 

12.9 Advantage played for a red card offence and player then becomes involved

Additional text
Advantage should not be applied in situations involving serious foul play, violent conduct or a second cautionable offence unless there is a clear opportunity to score a goal. The referee must send off the player when the ball is next out of play but if the player plays the ball or challenges/interferes with an opponent, the referee will stop play, send off the player and restart with an indirect free kick.

Explanation
Clarifies that on the rare occasion that a referee plays advantage for a RC offence (only if a goal-scoring opportunity is imminent) if the RC player then becomes involved in play, the game must be stopped as it would be against ‘fair play’ if the player scored, contributed to a goal or stopped the opponents scoring.

12.10 Cautions for handball

Old Text
There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour, e.g. if a player:
• commits a foul for the tactical purpose of interfering with or breaking up a promising attack
• holds an opponent for the tactical purpose of pulling the opponent away from the ball or preventing the opponent from getting to the ball
• handles the ball to prevent an opponent gaining possession or developing an attack
• handles the ball in an attempt to score a goal (irrespective of whether or not the attempt is successful)

New Text
There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour, e.g. if a player:
• commits a foul or handles the ball to interfere with or stop a promising attack
• handles the ball in an attempt to score a goal (whether or not the attempt is successful) or in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent a goal

Explanation
• ‘Preventing an opponent gaining possession’ is removed as a YC offence as it causes some referees to YC every handball.
• Handling is included as a YC offence when it ‘stops/interferes with a promising attack’ (as with other offences which have the same effect).
• Clarifies that a player who tries unsuccessfully to handle the ball to stop a goal being scored should receive a YC.

 

12.11 Denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity in the penalty area

Additional text
Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a deliberate handball offence the player is sent off wherever the offence occurs.

Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offending player is cautioned unless:
• The offence is holding, pulling or pushing or
• The offending player does not attempt to play the ball or there is no possibility for the player making the challenge to play the ball or
• The offence is one which is punishable by a red card wherever it occurs on the field of play (e.g. serious foul play, violent conduct etc.)

In all the above circumstances the player is sent off.

Explanation
When a DOGSO offence is committed by a defender in the penalty area, the penalty kick effectively restores the goal-scoring opportunity so the punishment for the player should be less strong (a YC) than when the offence is committed outside the penalty area. However, where the offence is handball or clearly not a genuine attempt to play or challenge for the ball (as defined in the wording) the player will be sent off.

 

12.12 Serious foul play – inclusion of ‘challenge’

Old Text
A tackle that endangers the safety of an opponent must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

New Text
A tackle or challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Explanation
Same change as in 12.2 – ‘challenge’ includes offences with the arms, elbows etc.

 

12.13 Violent Conduct – no contact

Old Text
A player is guilty of violent conduct if he uses excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball or excessive force or brutality against a team-mate, spectator, match official or any other person.

New Text
Violent conduct is when a player uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball, or against a team-mate, team official, match official, spectator or any other person, regardless of whether contact is made.

Explanation
Clarifies that attempted violence is punished by a RC even if unsuccessful.

 

12.14 Violent Conduct – contact with the head/face

Additional text
In addition, a player who, when not challenging for the ball, deliberately strikes an opponent or any other person on the head or face with the hand or arm, is guilty of violent conduct unless the force used was negligible.

Explanation
Clarifies that a player who deliberately hits/strikes an opponent on the head/face (when not challenging for the ball) should be sent off (unless negligible force).

 

12.15 Offences against substitutes, team officials, match officials etc…

Old Text
If the ball is in play and a player commits an offence inside the field of play:
• against an opponent, play is restarted with a direct free kick from the position where the offence occurred (see Law 13 – Position of free kick) or a penalty kick (if inside the offending player’s own penalty area)
• against a team-mate, play is restarted with an indirect free kick from the position where the offence occurred (see Law 13 – Position of free kick)
• against a substitute or substituted player, play is restarted with an indirect free kick from the position of the ball when play was stopped (see Law 13 – Position of free kick)
• against the referee or an assistant referee, play is restarted with an indirect free kick from the position where the offence occurred (see Law 13 – Position of free kick)
• against another person, play is restarted with a dropped ball from the position of the ball when play was stopped, unless play was stopped inside the goal area, in which case the referee drops the ball on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located when play was stopped

New Text
If the ball is in play and a player commits an offence inside the field of play against:
• an opponent - indirect or direct free kick or penalty kick
• a team-mate, substitute, substituted player, team official or a match official – a direct free kick or penalty kick
• any other person – a dropped ball

Explanation
The punishment for an offence against another participant reflects the seriousness of such an action e.g. football sends out a weak/poor message if an offence against a match official is only an indirect free kick.

 

12.16 Fouls off the field of play (see 13.3 + 14.1)

Old Text
If the ball is in play and the offence occurred outside the field of play…
• if the player leaves the field of play to commit the offence, play is restarted with an indirect free kick from the position of the ball when play was stopped (see Law 13 –Position of free kick)

New Text
If the ball is in play and the offence occurred outside the field of play(…) However, if a player leaves the field of play as part of play and commits an offence against another player, play is restarted with a free kick taken on the boundary line nearest to where the offence occurred; for direct free kick offences a penalty kick is awarded if this is within the offender’s penalty area.

Explanation
Law is changed as football would expect that if 2 players leave the field as part of normal action and one fouls the other off the field, a free kick should be awarded. No one would understand if the referee gave a RC/YC and then restarted with a dropped ball (or IDFK). The FK is awarded on the touchline/goal line nearest to where the foul occurred; if this is on the goal line in the offender’s penalty area a penalty is awarded.



 

[Guest]

Thanks Keith... This is just the summary of changes ? 

I think that there will probably be a "transitional" period for the first few weeks of next season just to understand all the changes. It would be extremely beneficial if the referees begin enforcing the new laws as soon as the pre-season period arrives, that should help any misunderstanding as we start the season.

There are some good references here... There was a thread that completely divided opinion "goal or no goal" with some penalties... Thankfully they have no longer made that open to Interpretation so that's a bonus for everyone.

Ive been typing these up but not looking at them In Depth until the end of the season; I do t want to risk my decisions becoming confused with next years laws.

[panda]

Law 12 .14 seems to be open to interpretation. Referees will have different views on what is neglible force. Maybe the last part should have been omitted completely

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, panda said:

Law 12 .14 seems to be open to interpretation. Referees will have different views on what is neglible force. Maybe the last part should have been omitted completely

Yeah I thought that when I looked at it. What would you class as negligible? Maybe just a coming together of heads where it's not thrust into the opponent? I don't know. Handbag moments I think would be a good way to describe it

 

[ECPL]

Oh dear.  The jobsworths are at it again.   To think that football used to be such a simple game.  Who would want to be a referee

[Bruegel the Elder]

Problem is ECPL that it is now a complex game, still played (and watched) by simple folk (every post I read by Dange'rous reminds me of how simple in my case). I do agree about the lot of the referee, but never mind, they'll have drones doing it soon!