How is a player ruled as having committed a foul?

A player is ruled as having committed a foul by infringing the Laws of the Game as specified. The Laws of the Game are established by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and outline the specific actions that are considered fouls, such as tripping, pushing, holding, or any action deemed to interfere with an opponent's ability to play the ball safely and fairly.

This definition is rooted in the objective criteria set forth in the Laws, which referees are trained to apply consistently during a match. The referee's decisions are based on their observation of the play and their understanding of whether a player's actions violate those established rules, rather than subjective opinions or external influences such as complaints from players or spectators.

Other choices, like receiving a yellow card or being called out by the referee, are consequences that may follow a foul, but they do not define the act of committing a foul itself. Complaining by an opposing player is also not a determining factor in whether a foul has occurred; it could alert the referee to a potential foul, but it does not establish that a foul has been committed.