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When I play recreational football, I pursue my man or a player a lot. Sometimes, out of nowhere, their back foot clip my thigh while running and they trip. It looks bad from far away and a foul is taken. I haven't done much besides running behind them or a bit on the side.
In another case, I was standing still and when the player twist and run, the same thing happen.
Is an unintentional clipping from behind considered as a foul in football?
It's a short answer, but "Yes".
If you impede a player unfairly then your team will be penalised with the appropriate free-kick/penalty and possible card.
It doesn't matter if it's accidental or not, you have still impeded the player.
Law 12 (Misconduct) of the Laws of the Game state:
A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
[..]
- trips or attempts to trip an opponent
The key word here is "careless". When running behind a player you need to take care that you don't trip him. If you do, you will be penalised with a direct free-kick against your team.
