Elbow Use in Challenges

Using the elbow against an opponent is always a foul. Depending on the force and intent, it can be a yellow card for reckless use or a red card for violent conduct. An elbow off the ball to the head or face is almost always a red card.

The full rule

The elbow is one of the most dangerous body parts in football contact. Even low-force elbow contact to the face or head can cause serious injury. IFAB distinguishes between accidental elbow contact during a normal challenge — which may not be a foul — and deliberate or reckless elbow use, which always is. A player who raises their elbow while jumping and makes contact with an opponent's face, even if going for the ball, is likely guilty of at minimum reckless play. An elbow deliberately swung at an opponent off the ball is violent conduct — a red card regardless of the force used. The key factors are: was it deliberate, was it off the ball, what area of the body was hit, and how much force was used.

Key points

✓Deliberate elbow to opponent = foul, minimum yellow card
✓Elbow off the ball to face or head = violent conduct, red card
✓Accidental elbow during fair challenge = referee's judgment, may not be a foul
✓Elbow raised during jump that hits opponent = reckless at minimum
✓Force does not need to be extreme — off-ball elbow to face is always serious
✓VAR reviews all elbow incidents not spotted by the on-field referee

Scenarios

Scenario 1

Player swings elbow off the ball into opponent's face

Foul

Away from the ball, a player swings their elbow into an opponent's face. The referee does not see it but VAR reviews it.

Correct call: Red card for violent conduct. An elbow deliberately used against an opponent off the ball is violent conduct regardless of the force. VAR can recommend the red card.

Common mistake: Not acting because the referee did not see it. VAR specifically covers missed violent conduct incidents. The sending-off can be issued at the next stoppage.

Scenario 2

Player raises elbow while jumping, hits opponent's nose

Foul

Two players jump for a header. One raises their elbow for balance and it makes contact with the opponent's nose.

Correct call: At minimum a foul for dangerous play. If the elbow was deliberately raised to make the body bigger or to intimidate, it is reckless — yellow card. Referees must judge whether the elbow position was justifiable or whether the player took advantage of the jump.

Common mistake: Allowing it because both players were jumping for the ball. Jumping for the ball does not excuse an elbow that makes contact with the opponent's face.

Scenario 3

Accidental elbow during fair shoulder challenge

No foul

A player goes for a fair shoulder charge and their elbow brushes the opponent's arm during the natural motion.

Correct call: No foul if the contact was incidental and not deliberate. An accidental elbow brush during a genuinely fair challenge is not automatically a foul — the referee must judge the intent and nature of the contact.

Common mistake: Giving a foul because any elbow contact occurred. Incidental contact during a fair challenge is not necessarily an offence.