| Some fouls are minor or trifling; some do not even | | | | opponent that contact is made and the direction of the |
| warrant disciplinary action. However, a brand of foul | | | | tackler's feet or arms. |
| results in a player's expulsion - serious foul play. The | | | | The main distinction between serious foul play and |
| safety of player is paramount in a soccer match and | | | | violent conduct is that, for SFP, the ball must be in play, |
| serious foul play (SFP) endangers that. Recall that a | | | | it must involve an opponent and the player must be |
| foul is an infringement of the laws of the game that is | | | | challenging for the ball. If none of those criteria is |
| punishable by a free kick. For a foul to occur, a player, | | | | satisfied, then the offence is likely violent conduct. Note |
| on the field of play must commit it while the ball is in | | | | that serious foul play involves opponents. If a player |
| play. Serious foul play is an extremely bad foul - one | | | | uses brutality against a teammate in challenging for the |
| that involves the use of excessive force or brutality | | | | ball (as a result of a dressing room squabble perhaps), |
| against an opponent when challenging for the ball | | | | then that is violent conduct and the player guilty of that |
| when it is in play. | | | | would be sent off. However, the restart would be an |
| Excessive force/brutality is somewhat subjective. | | | | indirect free kick. |
| However, there are guidelines that give referees a | | | | SFP is punishable by a direct free kick, since it |
| common concept of what excessive force entails. | | | | invariably involves contact. Some commentators talk |
| Referees must consider whether a challenge for the | | | | about players being sent off for "dangerous play," but |
| ball puts an opponent in a dangerous situation or if the | | | | dangerous play is not a sending off offence. If a player |
| player far exceeded the necessary use of force | | | | plays in a dangerous manner while challenging for the |
| when making the challenge. Brutality is an obvious sign | | | | ball and makes contact with his opponent, then there is |
| of SFP; it involves such acts as stamping on the | | | | the likelihood of misconduct or it ceases to be merely |
| opponent or kicking the opponent after making a | | | | dangerous play in any event. |
| challenge. | | | | The presence of malice or clear intent is not a |
| Other things that referees can observe are the speed | | | | prerequisite for serious foul play either, since contact |
| or intensity of the challenge; for instance, a slide tackle | | | | could be incidental or accidental. However, if the |
| at speed is an easy candidate for serious foul play. | | | | contact endangers the safety of an opponent, then it |
| The referee must also consider the presence of clear | | | | must be sanctioned properly - by the player being sent |
| malice, the part of the body used, the part of the | | | | off and shown the red card. |