Can someone explain to me what constitutes a legal slide tackle? (Oh heck, why don't several of you take a shot?)

 

This is not a "sour grapes" post concerning one specific call vs a specific opponent. Over the years I have watched quite a bit of soccer and I don't know if I can tell you what constitutes a clean tackle. I have duly asked questions about calls that were made and you get some variety of, "Well, if the tackler gets the ball first it is a clean tackle." This, apparently, isn't all that there is to it because I have seen many called when the tackler got ball first and also was called for the foul.

 

Another explanation I've received is that although the player got ball, he came in too hard and endangered the other player. It seems to me that nearly every slide tackle will be hard because this tactic is used when a defender is about to be beaten and he sprints to get into a position to throw his body to the ground (legs down and cleats down) in a manner that will allow his legs to intersect with the ball first but then probably the legs of the offensive player.

 

Can someone please help me understand this complicated defensive maneuver?

 

Thank you, Gracias, and Danke.

Problem is some referees don't know what a good slide tackle looks like. I've been a coach,ref,and parent and sometimes I shake my head at some of the fouls given. Slide tackle needs to be so that the player gets the ball first and does not go through the player ie. Straight in or from the side but gets the legs at the same time. Basically the ball changes direction and the offensive player falls over the defender. If the ball is on his foot probably a foul if it's out in front than chances are it's a good tackle.

1st point is you HAVE to get the ball first.

 

2nd you can't wipe the player out with the continuation of the tackle. That is the tackler's body causes the contact. Not the tackler got the ball and then the tackled ran into or fell over them.

 

You cannot come in with an inherently dangerous lunge and get any player. Example with raised clear, or leg, or at an unplayable angle.

 

Slide tackling from behind is not illegal but incredibly difficult to do legally and carries a higher risk penalty if done wrong.

 

Those are the basic things I can think of but it is very much a you had to be there thing.

Took a quick look at what FIFA says in the rules... no wonder it's so vague to everyone... the only "tackle" reference I found in a quick search

 

118

Serious foul play

A player is guilty of serious foul play if he uses excessive force or brutality

against an opponent when challenging for the ball when it is in play.

A tackle that endangers the safety of an opponent must be sanctioned as

serious foul play.

Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the

front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force

and endangering the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.

Does anyone have any video of "legal" side tackle versus "illegal"?

Does anyone have any video of "legal" side tackle versus "illegal"?

You would need a thousand videos of each