Can You Push in Soccer? A Deep Dive into the Rules of Pushing

In this post, I’ll explain the EXACT rules for a push in soccer.

Some people might say that pushing is NOT ALLOWED in soccer. But that’s not true.

Pushing in soccer is a grey area. What do I mean by that?

The Laws of the Game consider any deliberate use of force to push or shove an opponent as a foul.

But not all pushes are created equal. If you do a shoulder-to-shoulder push, for instance, it’s completely legal.

To understand it better, we need to first understand what a push is in soccer.

In this post, you’ll learn about:

• The different types of pushes in soccer
• The rules around pushing
• Tactics used by teams for physical play
• How pushing affects a team’s strategy
• And more!

So, let’s dive in!

Different Types of Pushing in Soccer

Before getting into the rules, let’s first understand the concept of pushing in soccer.

You can differentiate the pushes based on their intent, force, and the situation.

Type of Push	Is it Allowed?
Incidental Contact	Yes (based on referee’s judgment)
Deliberate Shove	No
Shielding	Yes
Gentle Nudge	Yes, mostly
Forceful Push	No
Off the ball push	No
On the ball push	Depends on the force and intent
Dead Ball Situations	No

Let’s explore each in more detail.

By Intent

1. Incidental Contact

Players don’t always have full control of their body during games. This causes accidental brushes or bumps during a challenge.

If a player pushes their opponent by mistake, the referee might let it go. But again, it’s all up to the referee’s judgment.

2. Deliberate Shove

If a referee thinks that you’ve pushed your opponent intentionally, then it’ll be a foul.

Intentional use of force to move an opponent off the ball or gain an advantage is illegal in soccer.

So you’re more likely to be penalized if the push is intentional.

By Force

1. Tactical Body Positioning

Sometimes players use their bodies to shield the ball or control space. They might also need to lightly push the opponent to shield the ball effectively.

Such type of pushing is usually tolerated by referees.

2. Gentle Nudge

Soccer players often give a slight push to maintain possession or create space. This happens in tight duels or when the players are sprinting.

If the referee deems it to be a slight nudge, then it’s acceptable.

3. Forceful Push

A forceful push is when a player shoves an opponent with significant power. This can cause the opponent to their balance and fall over.

Referees don’t tolerate such pushes and award a free kick to the opposition team.

By Context

1. Off the Ball Push

Pushing an opponent not involved in the play is almost always a foul.

So, neither the opponent nor you have the ball. And you push him to the ground then it’s a foul.

2. On the Ball Push

A push when challenging for the ball is more permissible. But the degree of force and intent is crucial in this situation.

You cannot toss your opponent to the ground because you’re fighting for the ball. You also cannot push your opponent from the back.

A shoulder-to-shoulder push is allowed.

3. Dead Ball Situations

Pushing or impeding opponents at corners, free kicks, or throw-ins is not allowed.

The referee will stop the play to give a warning first. But if the tussle goes on, he’ll award a free kick to the other team.

---

Can You Push in Soccer? What the Official Rules Say

The Laws of the Game are the standardized rules that govern soccer matches worldwide. They provide a clear framework for fair play and consistency.

• Save

These laws cover various aspects, including player conduct, field dimensions, and match procedures. They ensure that matches are played under the same rules, regardless of location.

According to FIFA rules, a direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offences against an opponent in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless, or using excessive force:

• charges
• jumps at
• kicks or attempts to kick
• pushes
• strikes or attempts to strike (including head-butt)
• tackles or challenges
• trips or attempts to trip

The use of careless, reckless, or using excessive force is important to understand here.

A careless or reckless offense is when a player tackles an opponent without regard for their safety. It’s an offense even if it’s unintentional.

The use of excessive force is also not allowed. If the player uses unnecessary force to get the ball, then it’s considered a foul.

A strong push to gain an advantage when a gentler nudge would suffice might be seen as excessive.

---

What Happens if You Illegally Push Someone in Soccer?

An illegal push in soccer can lead to fouls and potential cards.

The referee awards a foul when a player pushes an opponent to the ground. The opposing team then gets a free kick from the spot of the foul.

If the player commits the offense in the penalty area, then the opposing team gets a penalty kick.

In cases of excessive force or aggression, the player who pushed might also receive a yellow card.

In more severe cases, where the push is deemed extremely violent, a red card can be shown.

---

Instances of Pushing in Soccer

On the Ball Pushing

Players often push their opponents to get control of the ball. This often stems from the desire to gain a positional advantage.

Players also push opponents to create space or disrupt their balance.

These actions can lead to immediate advantages. A successful push can help in breaking through defensive lines or maintaining possession.

Referees play a critical role in these situations.

Their judgment determines whether the push was within acceptable limits or a foul.

The referee looks at factors like the force applied and the intent behind the push to make a decision.

On the ball pushing can also influence the momentum of the game. It can lead to turnovers or counterattacks, changing the course of play.

Off the Ball Pushing

An off-the-ball push in soccer mostly happens during set pieces, corners, and free kicks.

1. Set Pieces

During set pieces, pushing becomes more noticeable due to the closeness of players.

Defenders push the attackers to prevent them from contesting the ball.

Likewise, attackers push the defenders to disrupt their positioning and get better shots.

2. Corners

Corners often involve players jostling for position within the penalty area.

Pushing helps in gaining a favorable position to attack the ball. Both for defenders aiming to clear and attackers striving to score.

3. Free Kicks

Pushing helps defenders maintain their formation and prevent attackers from finding space.

Meanwhile, attackers push to create separation from their markers and find goalscoring opportunities.

Referees closely watch the challenges during these situations.

The challenge lies in distinguishing acceptable contact from actions that warrant a foul.

---

How Referees Interpret Pushing in Soccer

Referees play a pivotal role in interpreting a push in soccer. They assess physicality based on factors such as the intent of the player and the force applied.

Subjectivity of “Careless”, “Reckless”, and “Excessive Force”

At the end of the day, referees are only humans. So different referees interpret recklessness or force in different ways.

What one referee deems “careless” and “reckless” might be a legal play for another.

Consistency is key in referee decisions.

That’s why it’s important for referees to not have any bias.

Understanding the Context and Intent is Crucial

Context and intent are powerful forces that influence referee decisions on foul calls.

Unlike many sports with strict foul definitions, soccer’s rules are up to interpretation.

Law 12 on Fouls and Misconduct uses subjective terms like “careless,” “reckless,” and “excessive force.” This ambiguous nature leaves room for interpretation based on context and intent.

Also, as I said before. Referees are not robots enforcing rules. They’re humans who aim to maintain fair play and player safety. 

Analyzing intent helps them understand the player’s mindset. Was it a genuine attempt to win the ball? Or Was it a malicious intent to hurt or impede?

Then, the context also paints a broader picture. Where did the push occur? Who was involved? What was the level of competition?

This helps the referee to differentiate accidental contact from a deliberate attempt to break the rules.

Trying to Balance Fair Play and Flow of the Game

Do you award a free kick and stop the game? Or do you let the game flow?

Referees have to answer such questions in seconds.

They do this by weighing the severity of the foul against the potential foul.

So, minor fouls (e.g., a soft push in midfield) might be ignored to maintain momentum. Meanwhile, blatant pushing with intent to injure always warrants action.

Context plays a role here too.

In tight, tense matches, referees might be more strict to maintain control. But if it’s a friendly, the referee might be more relaxed with the foul calls.

---

Balancing Between Pushing and Fair Play

Soccer, like other sports, relies on the balance between two opposing forces. Competitiveness and Sportsmanship.

This balance is more important when it comes to actions like pushing. The lines between legitimate effort and unsportsmanlike pushing can be blurry.

On the one hand, competitiveness is the lifeblood of the game. It drives players to push their limits, strive for victory, and showcase their skills.

Without it, matches would lack intensity and excitement.

But, sportsmanship acts as a counterweight. It ensures fair play and respect for your opponents.

A push in soccer exemplifies this delicate balance. Let’s see how.

Players might push to gain an advantage or disrupt an opponent’s dribble.

But they have to act within the bounds of fair play.

Players need to ensure that their intentions are not malicious. They also need to make sure that the push does not injure the opposition player.

Unintended Consequences of Aggressive Pushing

Aggressive pushing is sometimes used strategically in soccer. But it can negatively impact players, the game, and the sporting spirit.

1. Player Consequences

An aggressive push increases the chance of injuries.

It can lead to collisions, falls, and awkward landings. This in turn leads to injuries like sprains, fractures, and head injuries.

Many players had to cut their careers short due to physical and emotional distress from an injury.

Aggressive pushing can also hurt the aggressor.

Overreliance on pushing to win the ball can hinder a player’s technical and tactical skills development.

The players should focus on cleaner challenges and ball-winning techniques.

2. In-Game Consequences

Constant fouls and stoppages due to pushing break the flow of the game. It also reduces the pace and excitement for spectators.

Referees judge a push in soccer subjectively. This leads to inconsistent calls.

It also creates confusion and frustration for players and spectators, detracting from the fairness of the game.

3. Sporting Spirit Consequences

Aggressive pushing promotes a “win at all costs” mentality. It encourages the players to disregard the principles of fair play and respect for opponents.

Aggressive pushing also harms young players. Young soccer players who push aggressively might perceive it as acceptable.

This reinforces the behavior and fosters a culture of disrespect in the sport.

---

Difference in Interpretation of a Push in Different Soccer Leagues

Every country has its own style of playing soccer. While some soccer leagues are more physical, others prefer a more technical game,

That said, each referee officiates the game in their own way. But we can still generalize the understanding of a push across soccer leagues.

Let’s take a look at how a push is interpreted in different soccer leagues.

English Premier League (England)

The Premier League is known for its physical play. So a certain amount of pushing is tolerated as part of the game.

Even so, referees are strict in certain situations. For example, if a defender commits a foul to stop a counterattack, the referee will show a yellow card.

La Liga (Spain)

Spain emphasizes the philosophy of “Jogo Bonito” or beautiful game. Hence, soccer in La Liga is more technical.

A push in La Liga is penalized more readily than in other leagues. Referees are also stricter on pushes deemed careless or excessive.

Bundesliga (Germany)

Soccer in Germany has been traditionally physical. But that has changed in recent years.

Recently, the Bundesliga has promoted fair play in their matches.

Referees focus on protecting players and penalizing pushes with the potential to injure.

Bundesliga is also a pacey league, full of counterattacks. So the defenders are not encouraged to commit tactical fouls.

Serie A (Italy)

Like the Premier League, Serie A is also known for its physicality. So, physical play and pushing are accepted to a certain degree.

Ligue 1 (France)

The French game tries to combine technical play with physicality.

So, players do push but more often than not it’s penalized by the referee.

Major League Soccer (USA)

The MLS is still finding its style of play. There’s a growing emphasis on technical and fair play.

So the regulations around a push are getting stricter. The referees are not as lenient as other leagues like Serie A or the Premier League.

---

How to Push in Soccer (Legally)

Now that you know the rules of pushing in soccer, you can push your opponents within the rules of the game.

Use Body Positioning to Shield the Ball

A deliberate push is never legal in soccer. However, players can use good body positioning to get around the rules.

It involves using your body to shield the ball, maintain possession, and create space.

To challenge using your body, you need to be the first to reach the ball. Always.

Then you can position yourself between the opponent and the ball. But you need to be careful not to use excessive force when defending the ball.

You also cannot stand and block the path of a running player. You NEED to be in control of the ball.

This move makes it hard for the opponent to get to the ball.

And if they push, the referee will call a foul.

Use a Shoulder-to-Shoulder Challenge

Another way to push your opponent legally is to use a shoulder-to-shoulder challenge.

I should clarify that using excessive force is still illegal in a shoulder-to-shoulder.

In this challenge, both you and your opponent must be attempting to reach the ball at the same time.

The contact should also be incidental. It should be a result of the natural momentum of both players trying to win the ball.

So, avoid forceful shoving or throwing your weight into the opponent.

Another important thing to note is that both the players should make shoulder-to-shoulder contact. You cannot just barge into an unprepared opponent with your shoulder.

Here’s a video to explain it better.

---

Pushing vs. Other Fouls in Soccer

A reckless and strong push is just one of the fouls in soccer.

Let’s now understand the difference between a push and other fouls.

Pushing	Tripping	Holding	Charging	Obstruction
Involves using force with your body to shove the opponent away.	When a player extends a leg to make the opponent lose their balance and fall.	When a player maintains physical contact using their arms or body.	An uncontrolled run into the opponent to make contact.	When a player blocks the opponent’s path to the ball without attempting to play it.

Pushing vs. Tripping

Pushing involves using force with your body to shove the opponent away.

Tripping is when a player extends a leg to make the opponent lose their balance and fall.

So, tripping is a more obvious offense. Unlike a push, a trip almost always results in a foul.

Pushing vs. Holding

Holding is when a player maintains physical contact using their arms or body. A player holds their opponent to restrict the opponent’s movement.

So the main difference lies in the timing of the challenge. Pushing is a brief action. Meanwhile, holding is continuous and restricts the opponent’s ability to move freely.

Pushing vs. Charging

Charging is much like pushing. In both cases, players use their body to dispossess the opponent from the ball.

Charging is different in the sense that it is an uncontrolled run into the opponent to make contact. Whereas a push is more controlled and does not require a lot of momentum.

A shoulder-to-shoulder is more of a charge than a push.

Pushing vs. Obstruction

An obstruction is when a player blocks the opponent’s path to the ball without attempting to play it.

It’s different from shielding the ball as you don’t have control of the ball when obstructing.

---

My Opinion on Pushing in Soccer

In my opinion, the role of pushing in soccer is a complex one.

On one hand, controlled physicality adds a layer of dynamism to the game.

Strategic pushing can also put two mismatched teams on a level playing field. It can aid both offensive and defensive tactics, as we’ve seen from the great Italian teams in the past.

But, excessive or unsportsmanlike pushing can hinder the essence of soccer.

Soccer is fundamentally about skill, teamwork, and fair play.

When pushing crosses the line into aggressive behavior, it detracts from the beauty of the game. It further risks overshadowing players’ technical abilities.

Balancing physicality with sportsmanship is crucial here.

Physicality within the laws of the game can enhance the intensity of soccer matches.

But unchecked pushing not only disrupts the flow of the game, it also goes against soccer’s principles of respect and integrity.

So while pushing is a good strategic tool, it should not overshadow the artistry that makes soccer a beloved global sport.

---

FAQs About Pushing in Soccer

---

Thank You For Reading

So I hope you enjoyed learning if you can push in soccer. If you did, then do consider sharing it with fellow soccer enthusiasts.

Your support and sharing of this content can help us reach a wider audience. It can also provide valuable information to more people who share our passion for the beautiful game.

I’d also like to hear what you have to say…

Are you a physical player or a more technical player?

Do you think physicality is an important part of soccer? Or should the rules become more strict?

Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment below right now.

Thank you for supporting Soccer Mavericks!

If you liked this article, you will love reading:

• Can You Use Elbows in Soccer? (What the Rules Say)
• What is The Offside Rule in Soccer? (Explained in Detail)
• Can You Fake a Penalty Kick in Soccer? (Official Rules)
• Is There a Mercy Rule in Soccer?
• When Do Soccer Players Retire? A Comprehensive Guide with Statistics