Question Number: 16449

Law 1- The Field 8/27/2007

RE: Competative

John Rahe of Santee, CA USA asks...

We received this from a coach today:

Today my girls played a game and the flags were lying next to where they should be mounted but were not placed into the ground because they are the type that sits on the ground and they were blowing over. The rules state that the flags must be there. I asked the referees before the game and they were not familiar with the rule and they said to just play the game. We lost, and deservedly so since my team only had 9 players at the game. I'm not sure I want to protest the game, or even if I could since the game was played, because I didn't want my girl's to drive all the way home without playing. Could you please clarify the rule for me?"

Could you help us?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Corner flags are required. That is very clear in the Laws of the Game. (It is interesting that nets are *not* required.)

At a FIFA international match or a professional match, the game would not be played without flags. Someone would be sent, 2-3 hours before game time, to make sure that proper flags that would work would be found.

It sounds like the type of flags at your game were the type used on artificial turf fields, where the field owners understandedly don't want spikes driven into the turf. Sometimes those will blow over.

In a youth game, we make do with the field as-is to the best of our ability, assuming there is no safety issue. If the flags wouldn't stay up at all, it might be best if they were removed entirely, so no one tripped over them.

If this was a grass field where a standard spike flag holder could have been used, the referee might write a note in the game report noting the deficiency of the field. Just as he would if he found the field had faint lines or slightly misplaced lines.

Both teams had to play with the deficient field. It affected both of them equally - I would guess not at all, I don't know how much a player uses the corner flag as a reference. So while the rule was not followed, there would be no basis for a replay.

I am surprised that the refs indicated they didn't know about flags being required in the Laws.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Nothing should be used that COULD be dangerous. If the flags are not able to be installed safely, use cones or even a small soft kit bag in a pinch. While we will not permit certain elite matches to occur without proper flags at the grassroots best to make the game a playable situation as opportunities lost are not always easily made up. In provincial or state matches of supreme consequences incorrectly laid out fields as law 1 applies could be a reason to replay! As for your kids I agree make it possible to play. Remove the flags lying on the ground and find alternate SAFE way to mark the corners!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

In youth games, usually the ONLY thing that will keep a game from being played would be a failure to have the goals secured to the ground. Missing lines, flags, nets or some markings are not reason to call the game off, although it should go in your report, and talk to your assignor about the issues. This is not normally something which you can appeal.