Question Number: 14286

Law 1- The Field 10/27/2006

RE: Select Under 14

franco of Bloomington, IN USA asks...

Law1
It states the field must be natural or artificial surface. That covers everything under the sun from grass to concrete. What is it really stating, is hard surfaces allowed?

What about a grass field that is extremely bumpy and rutted, is that unsafe to the point you would not red the game?

One more thing. I saw a game where a club had such flimsy corner flags that the wind was blowing them and they were pointing inward to the field at about 3 or 4 feet high. Should the fans or a coach try to bring this to the attention of the referee or assume the ref is in charge and has decided its safe?

Franco

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Franco, anytime the referee feels the field is not safe, the game should be abandoned or played on another field. The laws say the corner flags must be 5 feet high at least. If they are not, then the flag sgould be pulled and replaced with something else. Of course the referee needs to write a detailed match report on what happend.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Good question, Franco. the rest of Law 1 states according to the rules of the competition and most localities have rules forbidding asphaly or concrete. Plus, the referee has authority to forbid a game to be played on any surface he/she deems unsafe. I have refuse to start games on fields with potholes until they were filled and packed so as to be made safe. Not a popular decision but you should see the number of parents and coaches that miraculously produce shovels when it becomes apparent there will be no game. Likewise for goals. I've shown up on fields where the goal weren't anchored and parents produced tire irons that when hammered in were safe and provided an anchor. Flagposts tend to be flimsy which make them safe.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

An artificial surface must meet this, from Law 1:

IFAB Decision 7

Where artificial surfaces are used in either competition matches between representative teams of member associations affiliated to FIFA or international club competition matches, the surface must meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Concept for Artificial Turf or the International Artificial Turf Standard, unless special dispensation is given by FIFA.