When you commit a foul on the soccer field, it’s up to the referee to dish out the correct punishment. Sometimes, this might be just a free kick to your opponents, but other times, it could result in your sending off.
In this article, we explain in detail what “excessive force” means in soccer and why it’s so important for you to understand how a referee interprets this soccer rule. Let’s begin with a simple definition before we explore the concept in more detail.
Excessive force in soccer definition
In Law 12 of Association Football – Fouls and Misconduct – when a player is deemed to use excessive force against an opponent by the referee, they must be sent from the field of play. This is because they endanger the safety of their opponent and are a risk to the safety and well-being of the players on the field. Let’s take a deep dive into excessive force in soccer below.
Excessive force in soccer explained
The term “excessive force” in soccer is open to interpretation. After all, it’s subjective, as are many of the rules that soccer referees must apply game by game. This is why there is so much controversy in the game from week to week, and referees are accused of inconsistency.
As a soccer referee, I understand firsthand that it can be frustrating for players when referees interpret the laws of the game in different ways. However, when it comes to excessive force, it’s actually relatively black and white.
The referee has the authority to decide when a player intentionally endangers the safety of an opponent. The use of excessive force could result from a slide tackle or a fist fight, for instance. But it’s clear to the referee when excessive force is used.
One of the primary roles of the referee is to offer protection to all players on the field, and where excessive force is used, it must be punished and removed from the game where possible. But what happens if you commit a foul with excessive force?
What happens if you commit a foul with excessive force?
The laws of the game are very clear: if you commit a foul with excessive force on the soccer field, you will be sent off. The referee will deem you to have committed serious foul play and will instruct you to leave the field by issuing you with a red card.
As mentioned, you might see different interpretations of excessive force at different levels of the game. Something I’ve noticed as a grassroots referee is that recreational and amateur soccer is a lot rougher than the professional game.
In other words, what is tolerated at local parks would not be tolerated at the elite level of the game. So, a particularly robust challenge in amateur soccer might be deemed as the use of excessive force in the professional game.
This is where things often get confusing for referees and players alike, as there are different standards at each level of the game. For instance, if you turn up as a referee at a local game and start issuing yellow and red cards like you’re officiating in the MLS, you won’t have much success!
This is not to say that excessive force shouldn’t be punished at the local level. In fact, it still is punished with a red card, but you should be mindful that the interpretation of excessive force in soccer differs from one referee to another, as well as at different levels of the game.
How do you know what excessive force is?
This is a good question, as excessive force can mean different things to different people. However, the best way to look at it is whether or not your use of force has endangered the safety of your opponent.
For instance, slide tackles are perfectly legal in soccer. However, if you lunge in with both feet off the ground and make contact with the shins of your opponent, you have committed a serious foul, and the referee is likely to deem it as excessive force.
Another example might be when you try and shoulder barge a player – something that is perfectly legal in the game. However, if you run from a considerable distance and elbow your opponent in the back instead of the shoulder, you have used excessive force in the challenge.
Ultimately, there are lots of situations out on the soccer field where a player might use excessive force to challenge an opponent. But crucially, if you overstep the mark and commit a foul with excessive force, you will be sent off, and your team will be reduced to ten players.
Is excessive force the same as dangerous play?
In the laws of the game, excessive force is slightly different from dangerous play. However, endangering an opponent is a serious offense that should result in a red card, so the outcome is the same.
The reason why it’s so important to understand the term “excessive force” in soccer is that you need to realize what constitutes a sending-off offense and how a referee decides between yellow and red cards.
As a player, you need to use your discretion on the field and understand what is and what is not acceptable when you’re putting in challenges during a match. Ultimately, using excessive force is extremely dangerous and could result in serious injury to your opponent.
So, next time you get caught up in the heat of the moment on a soccer field, take a moment to compose yourself before flying into a challenge, as using excessive force will almost certainly get you into trouble.
Recap: Excessive force in soccer
The term “excessive force” is used by referees to determine the severity of a foul. If the referee decides that you have used excessive force when challenging an opponent, they have no choice but to send you from the field of play.
Therefore, you need to understand your boundaries and think twice before jumping into a tackle on the soccer field. Not only does using excessive force result in a red card, but you’re also endangering your opponent, which is not to be encouraged on the soccer field.