VAA Ref Info

Here's what needs to be understood (FIFA rules):

1. (not new) Language - for a foul to happen, the event must involve: a) active players, b) on the field of play, c) while the ball is in play. It's semantics, but if those three things aren't true then it's misconduct, not a foul (though there might not be any difference in the punishment).
2. The key new language penalizes most direct kick fouls only if careless (foul), reckless (caution) or using excessive force (send-off). This is for kick, trip, jump at, charge, strike, push or tackle an opponent.
3. tackles - only tackling the ball is legal. tackling a player is not legal. (new language)
4. (old) tackling an opponent without first contacting the ball is a foul
   (new) tackling an opponent is a foul (subject to careless, reckless, excessive force) - so that means that taking down an opponent, regardless of ball contact, is a candidate for a foul! This is a major change in the laws.
5. (not new for VAA) Denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity via deliberately handling the ball or any foul punishable by a direct free kick has always been an automatic send-off (red card) in FIFA rules. These fouls do not get a caution or send-off for VAA (except for a reckless foul or use of excessive force), however either would result in a PK if the offence occurs in the penalty area.
6. (not new) we need to remove the word "handball" from all our soccer vocabularies. "handball" is not a word used in soccer. There is a direct kick foul called "deliberately handling the ball". This is far more descriptive of the situation and if we all use and promote that language things will be better for all players and refs.

< bc@bjb.org >