Question Number: 17216

Mechanics 10/9/2007

RE: Competitive Adult

Eddie of Lancaster, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16794

Following up on dealing with injured players... I've always made an injured player leave the field if a coach came on the field to check on them. I know about the keeper exception, allow a sub, or let that player back on the field appropriately after the restart.

But recently, someone pointed me to ATR 5.9 (2006), which seems to say that I can't make a player leave the field unless I stopped play specifically because I thought he was seriously injured.

I'm confused...

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

That is correct, if the stoppage is solely for the injury the player must go out. If there was another reason for the stoppage, associated with the injury or not, the player does not have to go out - he may be hurting but in the opinion of the referee he wasn't seriously injured or the ref would have stopped play earlier. If the team officials are called onto the field to give assistance, then the player must leave until after play is restarted.

The reasoning is that too many players were "injured" and then after play was stopped for them they jumped up ready to go, miraculously healed. It was those players this was meant to address, not someone who actually was injured but could continue playing after a short treatment.

In many cases the player in a high-level game won't be in any condition to immediately resume play, so the point is moot. Most of the text about injured players in the Laws of the Game presume that the injury is serious - for example, the stretcher bearers are to come out at the same time the doctor/physio does. If the restart of play is held up for an injured player, whether or not the original stoppage is because of the injury, it is assumed the player will need some recovery time.

Section 5.9 in Advice to Referees is speaking of injuries in general, not specifically when a medic is called out onto the field.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The paragraph remains in ATR 2007 and is unchanged save the cautionable offense has become unsporting behavior instead of delaying the restart of play.

What is said is this: Little Johnnie goes down screaming as if he was hit by a truck. You stop play to assess the seriousness of his injury. At this point whether he is alive or dead he is going to leave the field of play! This prevents him from feigning injury to take a break or stop an attack. In the event he refuses to leave the paragraph offers options. If he is seriously injured then you have done well indeed, you stopped play and saw to his needs. If he just needs a bit of magic water he is going to get it on the touchline off the field.

The wise referee will allow him to "recover" his faculties [cool his jets] for a bit. In the event it happens again and you get caught it is time to hang a little yellow wallpaper just to get across the point you are displeased.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

Update 12.10.07: USSF has just issued a new memo on the subject.

http://www.ussoccer-data.com/docfile/HandlingInjuries.htm

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 17274