The following has been released by the English Premier League to clarify the law on tackles…
Referees' chief Mike Riley has moved to clarify the Law on tackling following recent incidents in the Barclays Premier League.
Clubs have been informed that there is absolutely no change in the advice given to referees on the interpretation of tackles in applying Law 12 correctly.
What players and managers are being reminded of however is: If a player commits a tackle at speed, with intensity and with both feet off the ground they run the risk of the challenge being punished with a red card.
Following a spate of high-profile challenges, Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) general manager Riley brought together leading stakeholders in the game to agree on guidance for referees, players and managers.
Last week PGMOL met with the Professional Footballers' Association, the League Managers' Association, Premier League Match Delegates and the Select Group officials to discuss tackling and seek to provide guidance for the players, managers and clubs.
There was an exhaustive review of DVD evidence from all angles and in slow motion.
The clubs have now received written guidance and next week they will also receive a new DVD to play to players and managers.
The DVD shows the difference between careless tackles, reckless tackles and tackles using excessive force.
"We wanted to get a collective game view rather than just a referee view as to where to draw the line," said Riley.
"The consensus was that there will always be tackles that are borderline but it's important to return to the message that the players have consistently had over the last three years.
"That message is that if you commit to a tackle that's at speed and with intensity, typically with both feet off the ground, then you put yourself at risk of being sent off.
"The Law specifies the distinction between careless, reckless and excessive force. Ultimately, it's about determining the difference between yellow card and red card offences.
"We know that 70% of tackles are clean and 25% are fouls which are careless and require no further action. That's great credit to the skill of the players and the responsibility they take towards their opponents."
There have been about 15,000 tackles in the Barclays Premier League so far this campaign, which is 9% up on the same stage last season, although there has been a 7% decline in the number of yellow cards for foul tackles.