Horse-collar tackle

[BigT]

Rule: 9-4-3

k. Grab the inside back or side collar of the shoulder pads or jersey of the runner and subsequently pull (backward or sideward) that opponent to the ground (Horse-collar), even if possession is lost. The horse-collar foul is enforced as a live-ball foul

I have been asking a few officials about this call and its pretty much black and white against what the book says.

The officials say they will never call a jersey horse collar. I know in sports there are rules that the referees hate so much its never called. Like face guarding in basketball.

As a new official I don't know if this is one of those or they do not see where it might be called.

Here is my guess.

If a player is dragged down slowly from behind by the jersey this is legal.

If a player is whipped backwards by the jersey this is a horse collar tackle.

By unmentioned referee rule book it has to be super bad to ever call this kind of horse tackle penalty?


Thanks in advance,