Last reviewed: May 2025
Strikes or attempts to strike
SoccerRule
A player cannot strike or attempt to strike an opponent. This includes head-butts. Like kicks and trips, contact is not required. An attempted strike that misses is still a foul, and depending on the force and intent involved, potentially violent conduct.
Common Misconception
A strike means a punch or an obvious act of aggression. The law is broader than that. An elbow swung into an opponent during a challenge, a forearm used to push a player away, or a head moved sharply toward an opponent's face all fall under this category. The action doesn't need to look like a fight to be called as a strike.
What the Referee Is Watching
The motion and intent of the striking action. Referees distinguish between arms used for balance or shielding and arms used as a weapon. A player who swings an elbow back into a pursuing opponent, even while ostensibly playing the ball, has struck them. Head-butts are treated with particular seriousness regardless of force because the intent is unambiguous. Attempted strikes that miss are still fouls and are often escalated to violent conduct because the attempt itself demonstrates intent.
Realistic Example
The Call
A player jumps for a header and swings an elbow that catches an opponent across the face. The referee may judge this as a strike rather than incidental contact depending on the angle and force of the elbow. At minimum it is a foul. If the motion was deliberate, it is violent conduct and a red card.
The Murky Case
A player shields the ball and extends an arm backward into a challenging opponent. Whether this is a strike or a push depends on the motion. An arm held out as a barrier is more likely called a push or holding. An arm that swings back with force is more likely a strike. The distinction matters because the severity of the sanction can differ significantly.
Last reviewed: May 2025
Get the ref's perspective on your game
Describe what happened. We'll explain what the referee was looking at and whether the call holds up.
Analyze a call →Free — no account required for your first calls