Question Number: 23800

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 8/20/2010

RE: Competitive Adult

Rick Bennett of Bellevue, WA USA asks...

Last night in the Sounders vs Marathon match the referee awarded Marathon with a PK for a kicking foul. The defender, Leo Gonzalez, had his back to the attacker, facing the goal, he knew the attacker was closing in and felt he should clear the ball before Keller could get his hands on it. Leo was in the act of kicking the ball when the attacker stuck his foot in front of his and he kicked the attacker instead of the ball. Momentum allowed for no other result. I know the LOTG say a kicking foul is just kicked or attempted to kick but what about this instance? So all any player has to do to draw a PK is stick their foot in front of a defenders attempt to clear the ball, from within the penalty area, and it's a PK if he's kicked, how fair is that? Shouldn't this have been a no call where the attacker did it to himself?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Bennett
When making a play for the ball a player has to ensure that he is not careless or reckless. Now a player has to determine when he is not in possession of the ball but simply making a play for it that he in fact plays the ball and not an opponent. If the player kicks the opponent and not the ball that is indeed a penal foul. If on the other hand a defender is in possession of the ball and an opponent sticks his foot in when a player is kicking the ball without making contact with the ball that is a foul against the opponent for either impeding if there is no contact or if there is contact it is a penal foul. The referee has to determine the difference based on the actual circumstances.
I saw the actual incident and the referee was 100% correct to award the penalty as the defender kicked the attacker after the attacker played the ball. Had the attcker not played the ball but impeded the defender in his play of the ball it would have a free kick to the defence.