Ruleside
Law 12: Fouls and MisconductSerious foul play·Page 124, 2026/27 edition

Serious foul play

The provision as it is printed, and everything on Ruleside that turns on it.

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 or endangers the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.

IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, page 124 · clause law-12-e90d0fd4

Verdicts that turn on it 2

Walk the tree to any of these and this clause is part of the answer.

Explained in the rules library 2

The plain-language pages that build on this provision.

Questions that ask it 1

Points in a walk where the reader is deciding this provision.

The Laws of the Game are published by The IFAB and quoted here for the purpose of explaining the decisions on this site. Ruleside is not affiliated with The IFAB or FIFA. Every clause of Fouls and Misconduct that Ruleside cites.