PLAYER WHO ARRIVES AFTER GAME STARTS (NO SUBSTITUTES)

February 26, 2008 by Jim Allen

Question:
Law 3
A player who has been sent off before the kick-off may be replaced only by one of the named substitutes.

A named substitute who has been sent off, either before the kick-off or after play has started, may not be replaced.

My question: If no substitutes have been named and a player is sent off before play has begun, may the affected team complete the side with a player who subsequently arrives?

The “strange” answers by FIFA:
Q&A 2004: The team may be completed with this player provided this is allowed by the rules of the competition.
Q&A 2006: Yes

I don’t understand. Can you explain how is it possible to replace this player?

USSF answer (February 26, 2008):
The world of FIFA is wonderful and strange, and sometimes a bit confusing. In this case, the answer is yes, if the rules of the competition provide for it. If they do not, then no player may join the game if he (or she) arrives after the match has begun. It might have been better if, in 2004, the IFAB (not necessarily FIFA) had answered the question by saying, “No, unless this is permitted by the rules of the competition.” That would also help explain the omission of any qualifiers in the 2006 version of the Q&A.…

Kicks from the Mark

KNOW THE RULES OF THE COMPETITION!

May 22, 2007February 6, 2008 by admin

Question:
Hello! I am trying to find an official document that describes the procedure the Match Officials must follow during the period between the end of the Overtime Period and before the beginning of the Kicks From The Penalty Mark phase. I read all the published docs on your web site, including the Guide To Procedures, the Advice to Referees, LOTG, Guide to Fourth Officials, as well as various Memoranda, but couldn’t find anything. Is it defined by the Rules of Competition?So far I have gotten two flavors from different “trustable” sources by word of mouth, but no one has been able to document their source:

Flavor #1: a) Immediately after the OT ends, all the players on the field must remain in the Center Circle; b) the coaches come onto the field to conference w/ the players and to bring them water, and then go back to their Technical Area; c) Regardless of what Goal the Referee chooses, the JAR always remains on the Center Circle, while the SAR is always the Line Judge.

Flavor #2: a) Immediately after the OT ends, all the players must remain on the field, but may approach their Technical Area to get water and receive instructions from their Coaches, who cannot enter the field, nor can the subs; b) when summoned by the Referee or the AR, the players must go into the Center Circle and remain apart from each other; c) the Line Judge will be determined based on what Goal the Referee decides to use (i.e. if it is the Goal closest to the JAR, then he/she becomes the Line Judge, etc.).

Also, some colleagues say to allow 2 minutes, while others say 3 or even 5 minutes before starting the KFM phase. Please respond ASAP.

USSF answer (May 22, 2007):
There is no standard procedure for conducting kicks from the penalty mark. Referees use common sense in preparing for this contingency. The amount of time between the end of regular play and the beginning of the kicks is set by the competition authority. The jobs of the assistant referees are determined by the referee. Players must remain on the field of play.

As a practical matter, one could also say that how the kicks from the penalty mark are run is a function of the level of the particular competition.…

Law 5 - Referee

REFEREE SENT OFF AS PLAYER

May 22, 2007 by admin

Question:
I have always been told that when a referee is red carded as a player that he isn’t allowed to referee or participate in any soccer related activity until he/she sits out red card the suspension. This has recently came up in our area and the referee contends that this is strictly a local policy enforced by the local playing association and he could referee any other place other than locally while sitting out the red card suspension. When I started trying to research this matter I can’t find anything in writing concerning suspension of referees (from refereeing games) while sitting out a red card received as a player. Can you shed some light on this matter one way or the other?USSF answer (May 22, 2007):
We are not aware of any formal guidelines in this situation. It would seem appropriate for the state association to govern such matters.…