The quick answer
A fair tackle wins the ball without putting the opponent in danger. A foul tackle comes in three levels. Careless: a free kick. Reckless: a free kick and a yellow card. Excessive force: a free kick and a red card.
See what changes
Choose a play. Use Play or Freeze decision, then read the example.
The defender slides in from the side, low, and takes the ball. The attacker stays up.
- Blue team
- Green team
- Goalkeeper
- Referee or assistant
Fair tackle
The defender slides in from the side, low, and takes the ball. The attacker stays up.
Paused
Fair tackle
The defender slides in from the side, low, and takes the ball. The attacker stays up.
No foul: play continues
The tackle reached the ball and did not put the opponent in danger.
Careless
The defender sticks a leg out a moment too late and trips the attacker.
Free kick, no card
A mistimed challenge made without enough care. It is a foul, but nothing more. This isolated example has no separate offence that requires a card.
Reckless
The defender lunges in at speed, late, and takes the attacker's legs.
Free kick and a yellow card
The tackler went in with no regard for the danger to the opponent. That is a caution.
Excessive force
The defender dives in from behind with both feet at full speed.
Free kick and a red card
Far more force than needed, and the opponent's safety is put at risk. This is serious foul play and the player is sent off.
Common misunderstandings
- “But I got the ball!” Touching the ball does not make a tackle fair if it was careless, reckless or dangerous.
- “Slide tackles are against the rules.” No. A clean slide tackle is legal, although some youth leagues do not allow them.
- “From behind is always a red card.” Not automatically. The referee judges the danger and the force.
What happens next?
The foul tackles shown give direct free kicks, or penalties inside the defender’s own area. Cards for stopping attacks or denying obvious goals depend on additional circumstances and penalty exceptions.
What signal might you see?
Yellow is a caution; a second yellow leads to red. A player sent off after kick-off cannot be replaced; sending off a substitute or official does not reduce the on-field team.
Check your competition
Check your competition’s written rules and edition. Adapted youth formats may differ. The selected website city does not change the match rules.
Make the call
One question. No score or account needed.
A reckless tackle outside the area is penalised. What does its reckless nature require?
Sources and review
Rules edition: 2026/27 · Sources checked:
Prepared with AI assistance; checked against the linked rules. Simplified illustrations are teaching examples. AI transparency
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