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Is tackling with both legs illegal?

Sports Asked by Reinstate Monica 2331977 on December 19, 2020

According to the Wikipedia article on tackling, tackling with both legs is illegal.

However, this tackle by Sol Campbell is clearly made with both legs, and it didn’t appear to be called nor appealed for by any of the players, nor discussed by any of the commentators.

Is tackling with both legs in itself illegal, or does the tackle need to be careless, reckless, or excessively forceful before it is deemed to be a foul?

3 Answers

The FIFA Rules of the game don't actively say anything about two-legged tackles. Tackles, in fact, are only mentioned twice in the rulebook.

First mention (Page 36, Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct):

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

  • kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
  • trips or attempts to trip an opponent
  • jumps at an opponent
  • charges at an opponent
  • strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
  • pushes an opponent
  • tackles an opponent

Second mention (Page 126, Interpretation of the Laws of the Game, Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct):

A tackle that endangers the safety of an opponent must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

Serious foul play is a sending-off (i.e. red card) offence.

As the wikipedia article says (at least now, Fillet's seems to say it was recently updated), a two-footed tackle is only penalized if it is careless, reckless or made with excessive force - the same language in the first rulebook citation above.

So a two-footed tackle itself is not illegal. It's only illegal if it is careless, reckless or made with excessive force. The reason why two-footed tackles are often punished is because they are more likely to be careless/reckless. The big danger is that you catch the other player's feet/ankles between your legs, which can easily lead to a sprain, twisted ankle, or (less easily, but most dangerous) broken ankle. For this reason, many players will tuck back one of their legs when attempting a slide tackle - both for a cleaner tackle and for the safety of the other player.

FIFA's Laws of the Game is linked below.

One note is that amateur leagues will play by mostly FIFA rules, but with some significant modifications. In some, slide tackles are not allowed at all. In others, two-legged tackles may be illegal. As pointed out in the comments, these are likely not true association football, as these are not standard rule modifications allowed by FIFA (without prior approval). However, many of these leagues are non-competitive anyway.

http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/footballdevelopment/refereeing/02/36/01/11/27_06_2014_new--lawsofthegameweben_neutral.pdf

Correct answer by Duncan on December 19, 2020

The tackle you provide is not a two-legged tackle.

He tackles with his right foot/leg and his left leg just "is there". When you tackle you can't leave one leg behind can you?

This is just a clean tackle and good executed. Clearly goes for the ball, plays the ball and does not harm the attacker.

So yes, two-legged tackles are illegal, but their will be always to legs present. Reason for a two-legged being illegal (besides being potentially harmfull for the opponent) is because it's difficult to go clean for the ball that way. The way Campbell tackles he has full, or as much as can while tackling, control over the ball. When you tackle with two legs it's a frontal attack on the ball rather and there's little control over what you can do with the ball.

I'm at work now, but I'll add in some two-legged tackles to show the difference. Marcelo's scissor tackle, you see the second leg joining rather actively

I'm looking for some better examples, but hard to find apparantley

Answered by Don_Biglia on December 19, 2020

The simplest way to put this would be, Two 'Legged' tackles are not illegal... However two 'Footed' tackles are a bookable offence... Studs up is a very harmful tackle the legs can touch if contact is made with the ball first. However if a player is brought down with a two footed tackle its bookable regardless of whether he got the ball or not as it is careless and dangerous.

Answered by ThunderToes on December 19, 2020

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