Question Number: 15095

Law 5 - The Referee 4/1/2007

RE: Professional

Jon of London, UK asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15079

How bizzare!! This kind of thing actually happens?! Its common in continental Europe (so not the UK) for a player to shake the ref's hand when subbed off. In England it is more common for this to happen at the final whistle or on the way down the tunnel. It is a sign or respect, a thank u and just a nice end to a match.

I have had a player come up to me a shake my hand having been taken off after 70 mins who scored a blinder in the first half and I've said "Great goal" ,but in french as it was in europe, hand shake, that was it. A nice way for him to end his game.

For anyone to believe that FIFA would write into the laws something like this is crazy...i hope its not that he doesn't like us and this idotic attitude is rubbing off onto his players....put him right!!!

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Jon...the gentlemen that asked the question was referring to US High School matches which is NOT governed by FIFA. Either way, it is still crazy to think hand shakes would not be encouraged. Thank you for your comments.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I missed this question the first time around. The only way I could see that this would be against the local rules of any competition would be if it violated the so-called "zero tolerance". To ensure no one says anything inappropriate to the ref after the game, everyone is prohibited from saying anything at all. Do-gooders run amuck!