What Is An Obstruction In Soccer (+ What Exactly Are The Rules)?
Soccer is a sport that can ignite passions and cause the most mild-mannered people to become loud and aggressive. Most players and referees will be accustomed to a range of different calls and appeals that are vocalised during matches, from shouts about the awarding of specific set pieces to precise calls about individual indiscretions.
For that reason, if you've ever played competitive football — whatever the level — you're probably familiar with the call: "Obstruction!" It's fairly commonplace within the game, and when a player feels they're being obstructed, they are likely to make a strong case to the referee about why the opposition player should be punished.
But the exact rules surrounding so-called obstructions in soccer are a little unclear to many fans. In fact, the word 'obstruction' doesn't actually appear in the current Laws of the Game at all.
In this article, we're going to be combating that widespread lack of knowledge by explaining what an obstruction in soccer is and describing how players can avoid giving away this kind of foul when playing. Later on, we'll also explore how referees typically punish those who have been deemed guilty of obstruction.
What Is An Obstruction In Soccer?
The term obstruction has become part of the standard vocabulary of football, but it's worth reinforcing that this word doesn't actually appear in the official Laws of the Game at any point, so you won't often hear a qualified referee use it. What most people refer to as obstruction is officially known as "impeding the progress of an opponent".
According to the International Football Association Board (IFAB), "Every player has a right to their position on the pitch. Obstruction, or impeding the progress of an opponent, is when a player unfairly moves their body to prevent a moving opponent from getting to and/or playing the ball."
Essentially, IFAB (the body responsible for determining the Laws of the Game across the footballing world) has no problem with a player using their body to help them win possession from an opponent or shield the ball and make it hard for the opposition to win it from them. However, they state that the ball must be "within playing distance" when these physical battles are taking place.
The official rules add that "Playing distance means that the player could touch the ball if they stretched out their foot/leg or jumped. For goalkeepers, it includes whether they could touch the ball by stretching out their hand(s)/arm(s).
When the ball shifts out of playing distance, obstruction comes into play. If you use your body to prevent an opponent from gaining possession when the ball is not within playing distance, you're likely to get called up and punished by the referee for impeding the progress of an opponent.
How Often Does Obstruction Happen In Soccer?
It's common for a player to impede the progress of an opponent while the ball is within touching distance. Just think of corner kicks or free kicks, when centre-backs will repeatedly tussle with attacking players, holding onto their torsos or arms or trying to physically block their runs in order to reduce the risk of conceding a goal. In open play, physical contact is a natural part of the game, with most successful tackles requiring at least some degree of bodily contact between players.
John Obi Mikel played a key role in drawing attention to it,no other mainstream media was really talking about the illegal obstructions of the goalie with no attempt to play the ball. So many cheap goals were scored from this until teams & refs clocked on. pic.twitter.com/3r3vEgFNKE
— Raj Chohan (@rajsinghchohan) April 5, 2025
Not all of these moments qualify as obstruction, but that doesn't mean it isn't a common part of the game. In fact, impeding the progress of an opposition player is something that often goes under the radar, with referees sometimes struggling to clamp down on this practice and punish those who are guilty of obstruction.
Some fans have criticised officials for failing to cut out obstruction at the highest level, with the aforementioned example of a defender manhandling opponents whilst defending corners or free kicks showing how widespread and accepted obstruction is.
Part of the reason that impeding player progress doesn't always result in a foul being given is because the punishment can be quite harsh, and referees may be reluctant to drastically alter the course of a match due to an offence like this.
What Is The Punishment For Obstruction In Soccer?
The Laws of the Game are clear about what should happen when a player deliberately obstructs an opponent. According to IFAB, when this kind of offence occurs, the referee should award:
- a direct free kick if there is contact with the opponent
- an indirect free kick if there is no contact with the opponent
In addition, if the offence is deemed to have stopped a promising attack, the player who has committed the foul should be shown a yellow card. If they have denied the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, they should be shown a red card.
In fact, obstruction is one of the few occasions in which an offence occurring in the penalty area can result in a red card for the offending player. This is because a recent rule change outlawed 'double punishment', meaning that a foul resulting in a penalty kick can only result in a yellow card, not a red, providing the player made a genuine attempt to play the ball. However, when a defender deliberately impedes the progress of an attacker on the opposing team and the ball is not in close proximity, this example of obstruction is not a genuine attempt to play the ball, and the referee has the license to show a red card if they feel it's appropriate.
How Can Players Avoid Obstructing An Opposing Player?
The simple answer to this question is to always make a genuine attempt to play the ball, and when the ball is not within playing distance, simply do not engage physically with opposition players at all. Of course, this is easier said than done; physical contact is accepted in the game, and at the top level, you will regularly see close contact between players that borders on, or reaches, obstruction. This is particularly true in competitions like the Premier League, which is known for its physicality.
Beyond this simplistic advice, however, players who are keen not to obstruct their opponents should always try to consider whether or not they are moving into an opponent's path. The act of moving into the path of an opposition player is what distinguishes holding one's own ground and defending a position on the field from physically obstructing a player and thereby committing a foul.
It's also worth considering how advantageous the position you're in is. If your opponent is in a dangerous spot, it can sometimes be worth risking a foul by engaging in physical contact to stop them getting past you. At the same time, the last thing you want to do is give away an advanced free kick or a penalty. It's all about judging the individual situation and trying to work out whether to hold back or engage.
What Is Shielding In Soccer?
We've spent a lot of this article lurking around in the grey areas of football, the areas of officiating where there is some vagueness in the rules and an element of freedom for the referee to judge things on a case-by-case basis. One part of the sport that is related to obstruction but will hardly ever see a foul given against the defending player is the art of shielding.
In football, shielding is the practice of using the body as a physical barrier between the ball and the opposition player closing you down. Various parts of the body are used here, as the defensive player seeks to spread their hips, hands, legs, and shoulders wide, tensing their muscles and creating a strong obstacle for the pressing player to try to get past.
While using the body in this way, the player who is shielding the ball needs to maintain balance and keep an eye on the movements of the opponent. Is there a particular side that they're trying to weave around, or a tactic they're using to try to poke the ball off you?
You've got to be aware of these things, but at all times you must also stay within playing distance of the ball, without getting too distracted by your opponent's movements. As soon as you stray from playing distance, you start risking a foul for obstruction.
Usually, the best way to shield the ball is to position yourself side-on rather than fully having your back to the opponent. This helps you remain on your toes and alert to the danger, and it reduces the chance of the other player reaching through your legs or snatching the ball from the side. Sticking side-on can also make it easier to complete a pass to a teammate.
Shielding is just one of many techniques used by defenders on a regular basis, at the highest level and further down the football pyramid. If you'd like to find out more about a skill that has become increasingly crucial for modern defenders, check out our in-depth guide to playing out from the back.
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