A&H

Slide tackles that don’t connect with anything…

Hi, I am finding this a difficult issue of judgement and would like some advice from more experienced referees about when to intervene.

On the weekend I had a game in wet conditions with a number of poorly timed slide tackles that missed balls (and thankfully) players. The players who were targeted by these tackles did not have to take any kind of evasive action (e.g. jumping legs, etc). The tacklers just managed to miss the play all together. On these occasions the players were sometimes not in full control of their bodies and sometimes using what I would judge to be excessive force and thus a connection / collision could quietly easily have led to a serious injury and a call of SFP.

Despite warning a couple of players on the run about the risks involved in their poor tackling technique I do wonder whether I need to be more proactive in pulling these up?

What is your threshold for these kinds of situations where no contact is made and how big a weight do you place on the absence of any contact?
 
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First, you cam be proactive. In conditions like this you can tell the captains/coaches before the game and remind that you will have to judge sliding tackles, consider the conditions and decide if they are dangerous.

And then yes, when you think it is dangerous, it is an offence. But also, you can verbally communicate about non decisions. It makes it easier to sell when you whistle one.

And No contact = IDFK
 
Great question and first response. This site is just great.

I was wondering the same thing the other day and how I would manage it. I think it comes down to the 'potential' for it to be SFP etc. If they are sliding then they are by definition out of control - they couldn't stop/slow down even if they wanted to. The part that increases the risk is if they have stud up/down and all other variants.

I guess there is a wide spectrum of grey area in this, but some will be much darker than others. Studs up, high speed, close proximity = dark grey. Studs down, lower speed, close proximity = lighter grey.
 
First, you cam be proactive. In conditions like this you can tell the captains/coaches before the game and remind that you will have to judge sliding tackles, consider the conditions and decide if they are dangerous.

And then yes, when you think it is dangerous, it is an offence. But also, you can verbally communicate about non decisions. It makes it easier to sell when you whistle one.

And No contact = IDFK
Indirect free kick if you are taking the "playing in a dangerous manner" approach but from the OP description may well be a direct free kick, "kicking or attempting to kick"
We have a lot of newer referees on here, so good to explain that "no contact" can still be serious foul play.
 
The picture in my head takes us back to last week and the West Ham v Arsenal gk incident
If connects, serious foul play
if does not, ( as proven on the day) you cannot credibly penalise the gk
 
Thanks everyone. That is really helpful. I know it’s contested space but the description of the events as PIADM or attempting to kick give me some useful tools I can use for next time depending on the circumstances. Thanks also Santa Sangria for the advice on early engagement with the teams prior to KO and ChasObserverRefDeveloper for the advice on SFP. I think this has been a weakness of mine and something I have been uncertain about so the clarifications are really valuable and will no doubt help improve my confidence and control.
 
Hi
I'm new to the forum as a L7 referee.
My interpretation is that if the action appears to be made with intent, without actually making contact, then an indirect free kick is awarded. Advantage could be played too and then the free kick awarded if possession is lost.
I'm often using player reaction too, without being led by them. Is that a fair statement?
 
Hi
I'm new to the forum as a L7 referee.
My interpretation is that if the action appears to be made with intent, without actually making contact, then an indirect free kick is awarded. Advantage could be played too and then the free kick awarded if possession is lost.
I'm often using player reaction too, without being led by them. Is that a fair statement?
Not correct - kicking or attempting to kick an opponent is a direct free kick (and if the tackler is out of control a card also)
Your description indicates an action made to connect, so a direct free kick would be appropriate, and playing the advantage would be risky as there may be retribution.
In respect of a possible indirect free kick award, the only relevant part of Law 12 to get near to your description is "Playing in a dangerous manner" ; no contact involved, and usually given to punish a high foot dangerously near another person.
 
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