Obstruction

Balfa

A friend and I are having a dispute over the obstruction rule...

If a defender standing completely still was nutmegged and then run into by the attacker in possession of the ball, is that considered obstruction? Or does the defender have to actively move his body with the intention of causing the attacker to collide with him?

odonnell

obstruction as i know it is an attempt to block the oppositions movement taking him past you. If youre caught flat footed and the guys runs into you - it SHOULDNT be a free kick as thats his problem, but if you physcially move to block him - thats obstruction. its all about intent.

im sure someone can quote the official fifa rule book.

Savman

What he said.

Most times it's let go, would have to be fairly blatant to be detected by the Ref.

leninbenjamin

it's something the refs dont clamp down on enough, defenders are always doing this.

KdjaCL

Flawed rule

By not moving thats intent to stop him too. frees usually given.

By blocking a player whilst the ball is going out of play is also obstruction but never a free.


kdjac

Helix

obstruction is the single most woefully observed rule in world football, the refs dont have a clue

the foul on steven gerrard in the match v villa on opening day before he scored from the free, that was obstruction, yet the ref gave a direct free