Shirt pulling, pushing and general bravado pre corner kick…

[Prando]

What are the referee’s options ?
I understand there maybe an inability to award a ‘foul’ as the ball is not in play. So what are his options…particularly after having instructed specific players to stop ?
Anyone knowledgeable ?
The whole charade is nonsense if no action ever taken.

[Omegstrat6]

What are the referee’s options ?
I understand there maybe an inability to award a ‘foul’ as the ball is not in play. So what are his options…particularly after having instructed specific players to stop ?
Anyone knowledgeable ?
The whole charade is nonsense if no action ever taken.

Must admit that this annoys me too Prando. I understand that football is a contact sport and a tussle between attacker and defender for the ball is part and parcel of the game but the number of times both shirt pulling and virtual wrestling goes unpunished is unreal-yet a non deliberate contact with the ball can lead to handball and potentially a penalty. I suppose the only way to stop it is for referees to punish it (first warning-yellow-red eg?) but be consistent in doing so.

[Prando]

I’m ignorant of the referee’s powers in such circumstances, given the ball is not in play. Presumably there is some rule he could call upon resulting in a card as you suggest ?

[mickd1961]

I’m ignorant of the referee’s powers in such circumstances, given the ball is not in play. Presumably there is some rule he could call upon resulting in a card as you suggest ?

I had one penalty given against me in my years playing Sunday football Paul.

I was touching either side of his back as he was trying to back into me!

25 years ago the flat of your hand on the forwards back was enough to get a penalty given against you!

That I thought was ludicrous.

The present state of affairs is ridiculous.

I don’t like “blocking off” either.

Any contact between players should be within the exact vicinity of the ball.

[On Balance]

What are the referee’s options ?
I understand there maybe an inability to award a ‘foul’ as the ball is not in play. So what are his options…particularly after having instructed specific players to stop ?
Anyone knowledgeable ?
The whole charade is nonsense if no action ever taken.

I agree Prando, it really is most annoying to watch. For me, I would suggest it is a foul as it mostly continues once the ball is in play. The other thing that surprises me in these situations is the amount of players with their backs to where the ball is due to be played from. How can they judge the flight of the ball when they are not looking at it.

Carding players, as Omeg suggests, might work but I think the awarding of a penalty for the attacking team or free kick for the defensive team would soon put an end to what is in fact a foul according to the rules of the game.

Another pet hate is the way players roll around after a tackle and then get up and run away like nothing happened. It is unprofessional and should warrant a yellow card for such conduct.