Question Number: 17274

Mechanics 10/12/2007

RE: Competitive Other

Eddie of Lancaster, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17216

So, I just saw a memo sent from US Soccer, dated October 12 about Handling Injuries with this phrase in it:

"A player for whom the referee has requested medical personnel to enter the field at a stoppage is required to leave the field and may return with the referee's permission only after play has resumed even if the stoppage was not expressly for the injury."

I think this answers my original question and changes what ATR 5.9 means?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Eddie don't go off believing the 12 October Memo changes anything because it didn't!! What it is there for is to CLARIFY things referees were doing incorrectly. I'd like to call your attention to bullet point 8 in the referee's Powers and Duties listed in Law 5. It says:

"stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that he is removed from the field of play. An injured player may only return to the field of play after the match is restarted."

This has been part of the Laws, I believe, since the general rewrite in 1937. You'll note these two sentences say seriously injured and removed from the field of play. When little Johnnie hits the floor screaming in pain this is a serious injury!! We whistle for the stoppage and up he gets knowing he killed off an attack. This player will removed from the field just as if he broke his leg. If he refuses he may be cautioned. Note: in this case he WILL be cautioned in accordance with International FA Board Decision 5 of Law 12.

Careful reading of the first paragraph of the memo tells us it is for clarification and earlier this afternoon I contacted US Soccer to verify this fact. My assumption is correct. Paragraph 5.9 of Advice remains as written.

Regards,

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

See Question: 17315