Bicycle Kicks

[NOVARef]

So a fellow referee reached out to me about bicycle kicks and, although I've been reffing a few years, I've never had a player kick someone while doing a bicycle kick. Although they "are permissible if not dangerous", I feel like, if the foot during a bicycle kick is anywhere near a player's head without contact, it's pretty much dangerous. If there is any contact up high, it's an easy foul, and, if there is any significant contact up high, it's reckless and probably not far from excessive. I'm thinking, if most "studs up tackles" are straight reds, bicycle kicks that make contact up near the head can't be far behind. Can you share your thoughts on bicycle kicks and whether or not you think they risk cards more than other fouls and whether or not you think bicycle kicks with contact almost go straight to reckless and what you would consider excessive? Thanks.

 

[JamesL]

Every situation has to be judged on this own merit. As you say a bicycle kick can be done fairly, by showing a lack of attention or consideration for the opponent (careless), acting with disregard to the danger or consequences for the opponent (reckless) or using excessive force by endangering the opponent.

The worst Ive had by far was a player attempting to bicycle kick as his opponent was heading the ball, opponent won the header and got bicycle kicked in the forehead which promptly burst open and was pouring blood everywhere. Easy red card in this case but I've also had all the other variants over the years too.

 

[one]

I feel like, if the foot during a bicycle kick is anywhere near a player's head without contact, it's pretty much dangerous.

You have covered when there is contact. But when you say "near" (no contact) and "dangerous" you need to be clear on it. I assume you are inferring a free kick. So that can only be given as:

• DFK under attempting to kick an opponent. This can be a stretch when the intent is to kick the ball and there is no contact.
• IFK under playing in a dangerous manner which is the more likely. However it has to satisfy the conditions set out in law 12. It has to include preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury.

 

[RefereeX]

Think Wayne Rooney famous bicycle kick... clearly no danger involved whatsoever, so permissible. Attempting a bicycle kick in a crowded area is probably usually going to be an offence, but depends on the circumstances.

 

[NOVARef]

You have covered when there is contact. But when you say "near" (no contact) and "dangerous" you need to be clear on it. I assume you are inferring a free kick. So that can only be given as:

• DFK under attempting to kick an opponent. This can be a stretch when the intent is to kick the ball and there is no contact.
• IFK under playing in a dangerous manner which is the more likely. However it has to satisfy the conditions set out in law 12. It has to include preventing a nearby opponent from playing the ball for fear of injury.

Yes, I was more thinking about when there is contact and when it's just a foul, when it's considered reckless, and when it's considered excessive? I was saying that I feel any contact to the head/neck area is at least reckless and, as @JamesL said above, a kick to the face with blood was an easy Red card for him. I'm just trying to get a feel for what others feel is "just a foul" vs YC vs RC. As @JamesL pointed out, excessive (RC) is using excessive force...but is doing a bicycle kick "excessive" force? I mean you need a lot of force to get up and over. Is that force only some times "excessive"? I, personally, feel that doing a bicycle kick in a crowded penalty area meets the definition just about every time of a player "acting with disregard to the danger or consequences for the opponent (reckless)".

 

[RefereeX]

Yes, I was more thinking about when there is contact and when it's just a foul, when it's considered reckless, and when it's considered excessive? I was saying that I feel any contact to the head/neck area is at least reckless and, as @JamesL said above, a kick to the face with blood was an easy Red card for him. I'm just trying to get a feel for what others feel is "just a foul" vs YC vs RC. As @JamesL pointed out, excessive (RC) is using excessive force...but is doing a bicycle kick "excessive" force? I mean you need a lot of force to get up and over. Is that force only some times "excessive"? I, personally, feel that doing a bicycle kick in a crowded penalty area meets the definition just about every time of a player "acting with disregard to the danger or consequences for the opponent (reckless)".

Hard to categorise anything definitely, but I feel like most occasions with any contact above waste height would be a caution at least, more likely to be just a foul would be ones with no contact but where defender has to actively avoid contact. Then it would be IDFK though.

 

[socal lurker]

I'd just add to the mix that the standard for professionals and amateurs wis not going to be the same on this. The professionals are going to get more tolerance than we should give the "lesser" players we referee with, as they have far less control to avoid injuring somone.

 

[one]

I'd just add to the mix that the standard for professionals and amateurs wis not going to be the same on this. The professionals are going to get more tolerance than we should give the "lesser" players we referee with, as they have far less control to avoid injuring somone.

Totally agree, and less fear of being injured (unlikely that it prevents an opponent from playing the ball).

 

[OIREF!]

You can't really beat a well executed bicycle kick but if it results in contact with an opponents head I'm strongly considering a red card. When attempting a kick at height it's reasonable to expect an opponent is looking to head the ball and the consequences and potential for serious injury are clear thereby ' endangering the safety of an opponent'.
I think I've posted in the past saying that football is strangely tolerant of head high challenges, almost considering them 'accidental'.

 

[NoFoulsAllowed]

I disallowed a beautiful bicycle kick goal, after a defender was kicked square in the face during the follow through.

Was an easy sell.