Foul (sports)

The term challenge (English foul = poor, dirty → protogermanisch of fūlaz = rotten, rotten ) referred to in sport - except in baseball - a compliant behavior: A player disregarded during the current game its own duties or opposing rights, acts on an opponent on unsportsmanlike and / or preventing incorrect way to an imminent enemy of success. A player can commit a foul intentionally or unintentionally as a result of a failed rule- oriented action. Even negligence is possible. A foul is a stoppage by the referee resulted in most sports.

Depending on the game rules and severity of a foul, it is to be punished with a penalty. These are different depending on the sport before divisions of the disadvantaged by the foul team, eg by free kick, free throw, space gain or penalty points as well as additional optional or mandatory penalties such persons a yellow card ( warning ), red card ( from the game ), penalty ( temporary suspension from the game ).

In snooker, a challenge serves as a strategic tool and is even crucial, as provoking a foul usually requires a snooker, after which the game is named. In this case, the opponent of the challenge Commit ends are always credited points.

Kinds of fouls

We distinguish several types.

Offensive foul

An offensive foul, often referred to as offensive foul is present if a player of the attacking team fouls an opponent. This usually has a free-kick in soccer or throw in basketball result.

Tactical foul

Under a tactical foul is defined as a challenge that is mostly within the field half of the opponent, committed solely for tactical reasons. The goal of a tactical fouls is to achieve a stoppage of play, with a subsequent possession of the opponent is taken into account. By interrupting wins their team time to regroup and adapt to the new game situation. Tactical fouls are often committed when the opponent is trying to prepare a counterattack.

Tactical fouls differ from normal by several features. " Normal " fouls are usually used as a last resort to stop the opponent or arise accidentally. Among other things, often aggression and anger plays a role, such as a swing, which is not the case with tactical fouls. Instead, take place handles on the arm or to the jersey, which entails no danger of the enemy by himself and the referee still to move to interrupt the game.

Tactical fouls frequently provide for discussion, since they take advantage of the Regulations, which actually is intended to ensure fairness to achieve an advantage. Among other things, therefore there are in some sports (eg football) for the referee the opportunity to decide on advantage if the fouled player is in possession of the ball or the ball passes to a teammate. In addition, an apparent crime committed tactical motifs foul in football will be punished with a warning. So Michael Ballack was in the World Cup semifinals in 2002 after a tactical foul yellow card and was suspended for the final.

Revenge foul

A foul, usually performed as assault, in response to a challenge of the opponent is also called revenge foul.

Emergency brake

Detects the referee that challenge with a clear goalscoring opportunity was prevented, he shall direct the offending player with a red card for life of the field. One such challenge is colloquially often referred to as an emergency brake.