Professional foul
Encyclopedia
In sports, a professional foul is a deliberate act of foul play
, usually to prevent an opponent's scoring.
when Willie Young of Arsenal
committed a deliberate foul on Paul Allen
of West Ham
, when Allen had a clear run at goal. As the laws of the game stood, the referee (George Courtney
) could only award West Ham a free kick, which he did. This provoked a national debate on deliberate fouls that denied opponents the chance to score a goal. At the time, the English game was suffering a downturn in attendances and the chairmen of the Football League clubs decided to consider ways in which the game could be made exciting. A subcommittee was appointed to produce some suggestions, chaired by Jimmy Hill
and including Matt Busby
and Bobby Charlton
.
The sub-committee produced several suggestions, including making the professional foul a mandatory red card
offence, which they submitted to the IFAB
for consideration. All the suggestions were defeated. However, the Football League was determined to have their way, and instructed its referees that professional fouls (including deliberate handball to stop a goal being scored) should be deemed serious foul play
, which was and is a mandatory red card offence. The new interpretation was first issued to referees prior to the 1982-83 season, and one of the first players to be sent off
for a professional foul was Lawrie Sanchez
in the Football League Trophy
.
FIFA first instructed its referees to send off for a professional foul prior to the 1990 World Cup, and in 1991
IFAB added decisions to the law which provided that a player who committed a foul or handling offence that denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity should be sent off for serious foul play. These decisions were incorporated in the laws in 1997.
Currently, if a player denies a player an obvious goalscoring opportunity by foul means, whether deliberate or not, he is almost certain to be sent off. Also if the foul occurs in the penalty area, the referee will award a penalty
.
A notable example of such a foul was the 1998 tackle by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, playing for Manchester United
at Old Trafford
, who ran from within the Newcastle penalty area almost the length of the pitch to run down and trip Newcastle United
's Rob Lee
- with a clear goalscoring opportunity one on one with United goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw
. Solskjaer was immediately sent off by referee Uriah Rennie
(with the match finishing 1-1 and prolonging the Premier League title race with Arsenal
).
Another controversial situation occurred during the 2010 FIFA World Cup
quarter-final between Uruguay and Ghana. In extra time with the match tied 1-1, Uruguay's Luis Suárez
committed a deliberate goal line handball save from Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah
in the last minute of the second extra time period. As per the laws of the game, the referee issued Suárez a straight red card and awarded a penalty kick to Ghana, but Asamoah Gyan
missed on the penalty kick, leaving the game level at the final whistle. Uruguay went on to win 4-2 in the shootout, and Suárez' teammates carried him around the pitch as a hero. Suárez afterward said that "The 'Hand of God' now belongs to me. Mine is the real 'Hand Of God'. I made the best save of the tournament". He was banned for the next match, although some have argued for and against lengthening the suspension. Ghana's John Pantsil
argued that the referee should have allowed the goal to stand instead of pointing to the spot. While not technically an example of a professional foul, this deliberate denial of a goal scoring opportunity by handball typifies the willingness of players to take measures some consider unsporting to win games in elite competitions.
The majority of professional fouls are either holding down the tackled player after a break has been made in order to allow his teammates to reform in defence, interfering in the play when making little or no attempt to return to an onside position, or tackling or impeding the progress of a player not in possession when a try may possibly be scored. The latter situation may result in a penalty try.
See also: Playing rugby league
s are instructed to sanction professional fouls with a yellow card, resulting in the player spending ten minutes in the sin bin.
Foul (sports)
In sports, a foul is an inappropriate or unfair act by a player as deemed by a referee. A foul may be intentional or accidental, and often results in a penalty....
, usually to prevent an opponent's scoring.
Association football
The concept gained notoriety in association football after an infamous incident in the 1980 FA Cup Final1980 FA Cup Final
The 1980 FA Cup Final was contested by West Ham United and Arsenal at Wembley. West Ham won by a single goal, scored by Trevor Brooking.To date, it is the last time a team from outside the top flight has won the FA Cup...
when Willie Young of Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
committed a deliberate foul on Paul Allen
Paul Allen (footballer)
Paul Kevin Allen is an English former footballer who played as a midfielder in the Football League for West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, Luton Town, Stoke City, Swindon Town, Bristol City and Millwall in the 1980s and 1990s...
of West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, when Allen had a clear run at goal. As the laws of the game stood, the referee (George Courtney
George Courtney
George Courtney is an English former football referee based in Spennymoor, County Durham.He is said to be a freemason. His vocational career was spent as a primary school headteacher.-Ascent through English refereeing:...
) could only award West Ham a free kick, which he did. This provoked a national debate on deliberate fouls that denied opponents the chance to score a goal. At the time, the English game was suffering a downturn in attendances and the chairmen of the Football League clubs decided to consider ways in which the game could be made exciting. A subcommittee was appointed to produce some suggestions, chaired by Jimmy Hill
Jimmy Hill
James William Thomas "Jimmy" Hill OBE is an English association football personality. His career has taken in virtually every role in football, including player, union leader, coach, manager, director, chairman, television executive, presenter, analyst and match official.-Early life:Hill was born...
and including Matt Busby
Matt Busby
Sir Alexander Matthew "Matt" Busby, CBE, KCSG was a Scottish football player and manager, most noted for managing Manchester United between 1945 and 1969 and again for the second half of the 1970–1971 season...
and Bobby Charlton
Bobby Charlton
Sir Robert "Bobby" Charlton CBE is an English former professional football player, a member of the England team who won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or for European Footballer of the Year in 1966...
.
The sub-committee produced several suggestions, including making the professional foul a mandatory red card
Misconduct (football)
Misconduct in association football is any conduct by a player that is deemed by the referee to warrant a disciplinary sanction in accordance with Law 12 of the Laws of the Game. Misconduct may occur at any time, including when the ball is out of play, during half-time and before and after the...
offence, which they submitted to the IFAB
International Football Association Board
The International Football Association Board is the body that determines the Laws of the Game of association football.-Operations:...
for consideration. All the suggestions were defeated. However, the Football League was determined to have their way, and instructed its referees that professional fouls (including deliberate handball to stop a goal being scored) should be deemed serious foul play
Misconduct (football)
Misconduct in association football is any conduct by a player that is deemed by the referee to warrant a disciplinary sanction in accordance with Law 12 of the Laws of the Game. Misconduct may occur at any time, including when the ball is out of play, during half-time and before and after the...
, which was and is a mandatory red card offence. The new interpretation was first issued to referees prior to the 1982-83 season, and one of the first players to be sent off
Misconduct (football)
Misconduct in association football is any conduct by a player that is deemed by the referee to warrant a disciplinary sanction in accordance with Law 12 of the Laws of the Game. Misconduct may occur at any time, including when the ball is out of play, during half-time and before and after the...
for a professional foul was Lawrie Sanchez
Lawrie Sanchez
Lawrence Philip "Lawrie" Sanchez is a former Northern Irish football manager, and a former player. He is currently the manager of League Two side Barnet...
in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
.
FIFA first instructed its referees to send off for a professional foul prior to the 1990 World Cup, and in 1991
1991 in sports
1991 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg** Women's overall season champion: Petra Kronberger, Austria-American football:...
IFAB added decisions to the law which provided that a player who committed a foul or handling offence that denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity should be sent off for serious foul play. These decisions were incorporated in the laws in 1997.
Currently, if a player denies a player an obvious goalscoring opportunity by foul means, whether deliberate or not, he is almost certain to be sent off. Also if the foul occurs in the penalty area, the referee will award a penalty
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
.
A notable example of such a foul was the 1998 tackle by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, playing for Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
at Old Trafford
Old Trafford
Old Trafford commonly refers to two sporting arenas:* Old Trafford, home of Manchester United F.C.* Old Trafford Cricket Ground, home of Lancashire County Cricket ClubOld Trafford can also refer to:...
, who ran from within the Newcastle penalty area almost the length of the pitch to run down and trip Newcastle United
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
's Rob Lee
Rob Lee
Robert Martin "Rob" Lee is a retired English footballer who played the majority of his career for Charlton Athletic and Newcastle United.-Charlton Athletic:...
- with a clear goalscoring opportunity one on one with United goalkeeper Raimond van der Gouw
Raimond van der Gouw
Raimond van der Gouw is a former Dutch footballer, who played as a goalkeeper.After a successful career with Vitesse and well into his 30s, he moved to Manchester United, also experiencing relative recognition, although he played very sparingly; he scored his only goal in the last game of his...
. Solskjaer was immediately sent off by referee Uriah Rennie
Uriah Rennie
Uriah D. Rennie is a retired English football referee.-Career:He began refereeing in 1979 in local leagues, then operated in the Northern Premier League until 1994, at which time he was appointed to the Football League List of referees.He was given his first Premiership appointment on 23 August...
(with the match finishing 1-1 and prolonging the Premier League title race with Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
).
Another controversial situation occurred during the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
quarter-final between Uruguay and Ghana. In extra time with the match tied 1-1, Uruguay's Luis Suárez
Luis Suárez (Uruguayan footballer)
Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz , commonly known as Luis Suárez and nicknamed "El Pistolero" , is a Uruguayan footballer who plays for Liverpool and the Uruguayan national team...
committed a deliberate goal line handball save from Ghana's Dominic Adiyiah
Dominic Adiyiah
Dominic Adiyiah is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who plays as a striker for Karşıyaka and the Ghana national team.-Early career:...
in the last minute of the second extra time period. As per the laws of the game, the referee issued Suárez a straight red card and awarded a penalty kick to Ghana, but Asamoah Gyan
Asamoah Gyan
Asamoah Gyan is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who plays as a striker for Emirati club Al Ain in the UAE Pro-League , and the Ghana national team....
missed on the penalty kick, leaving the game level at the final whistle. Uruguay went on to win 4-2 in the shootout, and Suárez' teammates carried him around the pitch as a hero. Suárez afterward said that "The 'Hand of God' now belongs to me. Mine is the real 'Hand Of God'. I made the best save of the tournament". He was banned for the next match, although some have argued for and against lengthening the suspension. Ghana's John Pantsil
John Pantsil
John Paintsil is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who is currently playing for English club Leicester City in the Npower Championship and the Ghana national team....
argued that the referee should have allowed the goal to stand instead of pointing to the spot. While not technically an example of a professional foul, this deliberate denial of a goal scoring opportunity by handball typifies the willingness of players to take measures some consider unsporting to win games in elite competitions.
Rugby league
The professional foul in rugby league embodies a similar concept, a deliberate breach of the rules in order to prevent a scoring opportunity. The penalty for this offence is 10 minutes in the sin bin.The majority of professional fouls are either holding down the tackled player after a break has been made in order to allow his teammates to reform in defence, interfering in the play when making little or no attempt to return to an onside position, or tackling or impeding the progress of a player not in possession when a try may possibly be scored. The latter situation may result in a penalty try.
See also: Playing rugby league
Playing rugby league
Like most forms of modern football, rugby league football is played outdoors on a rectangular grass field with goals at each end that are to be attacked and defended by two opposing teams. The rules of rugby league have changed significantly over the decades since rugby football split into the...
Rugby union
RefereeReferee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
s are instructed to sanction professional fouls with a yellow card, resulting in the player spending ten minutes in the sin bin.
External links
- Professional foul The Guardian, 13 October 2004