Shepherding the Ball Out of Play
"...an indirect free kick is awarded if a player...impedes the progress of an opponent."
The above rule is crystal clear. You are basically not allowed to deliberately block an opponent.
But hang on! - This rule is not always applied. If the ball is running off for a goal kick, defenders are seemingly allowed to do whatever they want to impede a striker who is trying for all his might to get to the ball. They can completely block them off, barge them, lean into them - and all the time never even worry about getting the ball. This is wrong. It must be a foul!
And interestingly, if FIFA suddenly clicked and realised this, they could make use of an existing rule which would very likely result in a lot more goals - which seems to be the driving force for nearly all their rule changes and tweaks.
But hang on! - This rule is not always applied. If the ball is running off for a goal kick, defenders are seemingly allowed to do whatever they want to impede a striker who is trying for all his might to get to the ball. They can completely block them off, barge them, lean into them - and all the time never even worry about getting the ball. This is wrong. It must be a foul!
And interestingly, if FIFA suddenly clicked and realised this, they could make use of an existing rule which would very likely result in a lot more goals - which seems to be the driving force for nearly all their rule changes and tweaks.
Further clarity is provided by FIFA with respect to impeding an opponent:
"Holding an opponent includes the act of preventing him from moving past or around using the hands, the arms or the body."
I would say that this is pretty clear. Don't you find it amazing that such clear rules are not applied?
