Question Number: 13216

Law 18 - Common Sense 6/28/2006

RE: rec Adult

alex of richmond hill, ontario canada asks...

Foul against your own team

Just did a game where the Red team has 9 players against the Green team with 15 players. After I truned down a request to let a Green player to dress in Red jersey and played for the Red team, I noticed that one of the Green player (with a Green jersey) started playing against his own team on the field.

Problems arised when this player challenged the other Green players for the ball. According to LOTG, I cannot call a foul if they commit the DFK and some IDFK offences on Law 12 as they are not opponents.

I decided not to call these special incidences as fouls. Any advises?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Wow! This is one for the records. That is true technically speaking if green fouls green, you cannot award a dfk. Now if you stop play, it is misconduct and you must caution the green player. Restart is IFK at spot of misconduct, but if he does it again - another yellow and the red comes out. Then he is done. That is a way to nip that in the budd.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

What does the league say about this Alex. Is there rule or regulation to cover this contingency? If not then the match is abandoned and a report is written, you get your fee. Now comes the point where you still have an option, work the match or not because the players are going to have a kick around. If you work make sure you can identify every player in the event discipline becomes necessary. If you work your other match report will be about a friendly between two sides that switched some players .

When the league sees that they have two options, the match stands as played or is replayed.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Alex,
just why did you turn down the request? Just ask is this match a forfeit? Then play for fun! and the players can switch jerseys. If the league has stipulations on rosters and such the team of green is not obligated to play with 9 they can field 11 or choose to play 9 v 9. If a player chooses to challenge his teammate you need to watch for the manner in which it is done and the reactions of those involved. As stated it is INDFK restarts for the red team unless the ball is being DH (deliberately handled then a DFK for the red team So best get a red jersey on that player if that is what they wish to do! Just be sure that is what both teams want to do! As Ref Fleischer states you can option to abandon or play in fun and report the incidents to allow the league to render a result. Cheers

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