Foul (Quidditch)

A foul in the game of Quidditch is any action committed by a player that is contrary to the rules of the sport. The rules governing Quidditch, including the comprehensive list of fouls, are established and maintained by the Department of Magical Games and Sports. During a match, a referee (such as Madam Hooch at Hogwarts) is responsible for identifying fouls, halting play, and administering the appropriate penalty. The concept of fouls is crucial for maintaining a degree of safety and fairness in what can be a very dangerous and aggressive sport.

According to the official rulebook cited in Quidditch Through the Ages, there are seven hundred listed fouls. The ten most common fouls are detailed below:

• Blagging: Seizing an opponent's broom tail to slow them down or hinder their movement.
• Blatching: Flying with the specific intent to collide with an opponent.
• Blurting: Locking broom handles with an opponent's to steer them off course.
• Bumphing: Hitting a Bludger towards the crowd, necessitating a stop in play for officials to protect spectators. This is only considered a foul if a player deliberately does so.
• Cobbing: The excessive use of elbows against opponents.
• Flacking: A Keeper sticking any part of their anatomy through the goal hoops to punch the Quaffle out. The Keeper must defend the hoops from the front.
• Haversacking: A Chaser keeping their hand on the Quaffle as it passes through a goal hoop. The Quaffle must be thrown.
• Quaffle-pocking: A Chaser tampering with the Quaffle in any way, such as puncturing it.
• Snitchnip: Any player other than a Seeker touching or catching the Golden Snitch.
• Stooging: More than one Chaser entering the scoring area at the same time.

When a foul is committed, the referee blows their whistle to pause the game. The team that was fouled is typically awarded a penalty shot against the offending team. For the penalty, a single Chaser from the fouled team takes possession of the Quaffle and flies from the central circle towards the scoring area. They are given one unopposed shot at the goal hoops, defended only by the opposing team's Keeper. All other players are required to remain behind during the penalty attempt.

The rules of Quidditch evolved over centuries, with many early games being extremely violent and poorly regulated. The most infamous example of this was the Quidditch World Cup final of 1473, where all seven hundred known fouls were reportedly committed by both teams. This disastrous match highlighted the desperate need for a formal and enforceable set of rules. In 1750, the Department of Magical Games and Sports was established. This body officially codified the rules of Quidditch, including the full list of fouls and the system of penalties, which have largely remained in place ever since.

• Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: During Harry Potter's first match, Slytherin Chaser Terence Higgs rams Angelina Johnson off course. Later, Marcus Flint illegally blocks Harry's path, a clear foul for which Gryffindor is awarded a penalty.
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: In a match against Gryffindor, the Slytherin team employs numerous dirty tactics, including Marcus Flint deliberately colliding with Harry. Lee Jordan, commentating, accuses them of “blurting.”
• Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: The Quidditch Cup final between Gryffindor and Slytherin is marked by extreme aggression from the Slytherin team. Fouls include Marcus Flint attempting to ram Harry, Beater Bole hitting Alicia Spinnet with his club, and Warrington grabbing Angelina Johnson's head. Madam Hooch awards multiple penalties to Gryffindor.
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire: The Quidditch World Cup final between Bulgaria and Ireland becomes increasingly violent. A Bulgarian Beater is seen striking Irish Chaser Moran with his bat after she scores, a flagrant foul.

• The existence of fouls in Quidditch mirrors real-world sports, grounding the magical game in a recognizable structure of rules and consequences that creates tension and drama during matches.
• The comically large number of 700 fouls, with only a few ever being named, is a world-building technique J.K. Rowling often uses. It gives a sense of a deep and extensive history without needing to detail every aspect of it.
• In the film adaptations, Quidditch matches are depicted as even more physically brutal than in the books. While fouls are clearly committed, they are generally shown as violent collisions rather than the specifically named infractions like “Blagging” or “Haversacking”. (film)