Question Number: 15066

Mechanics 3/29/2007

RE: College

John Hodge of Covina, Ca USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15052

I found the section in the Fifa Laws of the game that led me to believe that if the Goal Keeper was injured that Play was to stop...

I found the section in the Fifa Laws of the Game website where I got my impression that play had to stop. It is under the section of "Dealing with Injured Players"http://www.fifa.com/en/laws/log32.htm and is listed at the end of the section called "Exceptions... The Exceptions list the following.

* injury to a goalkeeper.

* when a goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided and need immediate attention.

*when a severe injury has occurred e.g. swallowed tongue, concussion, broken leg etc.

My question is "Exception" to "what" in the "Dealing with Injured Players" section. Maybe you could clarify this section out for me.

Thank You

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The list you read has to do with the player leaving the field of play after being treated on the field following an injury or a supposed injury. What it says is the keeper doesn't have to leave the field of play following an injury and if the injury was sustained in a collision with another player he doesn't have to leave either. It has nothing, at all, to do with the referee being obliged to stop play when he perceives serious injury has been sustained by any player.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

That's one of those poorly written parts of the Laws. It says there's an exception if the goalkeeper is the injured player, but it doesn't say which of a long list of bullet points are being excepted. If you take the wording literally, the referee would not even stop play for a severely injured goalkeeper.

What it really is talking about is the need for a player to exit the field if the trainer/doctor comes out to treat the injured player. The GK is allowed to stay on the field if treatment can be completed in a reasonably short time. That's because we can't have a goalkeeper temporarily off the field getting treatment.

The second part of the exception, when it involves both a keeper and a second player, just makes common sense. If the GK isn't required to leave the field for his treatment, why should we require the opposing attacker to do so?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Just because your post indicated that this is related to college games in the USA, I'll refer to the NCAA soccer rules.

The only reference to injury that I am able to find to stopping play for injuries is under Rule 5-5-e . The rule itself makes no distinction between goalkeepers or outfield players it merely says [Referees] "Suspend the game and stop the clock because of injury."

The big difference between Keepers and other players in the NCAA rule book is in regards to when a player is required to leave the field after receiving treatment. Once the referee stops the clock and beckons the trainer on to the field any players receiving treatment are required to leave the field, except goalkeepers who may be treated on the field and remain in the game.