Dangerous Play

The most common example is a high kick — when a player raises their foot to head height or higher near an opponent who is attempting to play the ball. A player who attempts an overhead scissors kick while an opponent is nearby may be flagged for dangerous play even if no contact is made. Similarly, attempting to play the ball on the ground while very close to an opponent's head can be deemed dangerous. The key criterion is proximity and the reasonable likelihood of serious injury.

The distinction between dangerous play and a foul is important. A foul involves illegal physical contact — a trip, push, charge, or tackle. Dangerous play involves no such contact but creates an unsafe situation. If contact does occur — for example, if a raised boot connects with an opponent's head — the referee will typically judge it as a foul (potentially a red card offence for serious foul play) rather than dangerous play. Dangerous play fills the gap where the action was reckless in context but no contact was made.

Dangerous play calls require considerable referee judgment about distance, intent, and risk. Two players going for a head ball are both entitled to do so unless one acts in a manner that unreasonably endangers the other. Referees at elite level — guided by FIFA's referee education program — are taught to consider whether an ordinary player in that position would recognise the danger. VAR does not review dangerous play calls that yield indirect free kicks unless there is also a card decision to assess.

In practice, dangerous play is called most often in congested central midfield battles or near the goal. A classic scenario is a goalkeeper diving at the feet of a forward — if the 'keeper leads with a high elbow, this can be flagged as dangerous play. The rule reinforces that player safety is a fundamental principle of the game, not just an afterthought. Coaching at youth level emphasises safe challenges — teaching players to compete hard but to be aware of their own body position relative to opponents.