Question Number: 19553

Law 3 - Number of Players 7/2/2008

Chris of Vancouver, Canada asks...

If there is no 4th official, should the AR closest to the technical area make the substitution signal? Or should it be left exclusively to the infamous 'Ref Sub' call from the coach?

I also take it that the 4th official does not make the sub signal until a stoppage. Thx.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The 2008/2009 Laws of the Game on page 63, the Interpretations and Guidelines section tells us the following about substitutions:

. A substitution may be made only during a stoppage in play

. The assistant referee signals that a substitution has been requested

. The player being substituted receives the referee's permission to leave the field of play, unless he is already off the field of play for reasons that comply with the Laws of the Game

. The referee gives the substitute permission to enter the field of play

. Before entering the field of play, the substitute waits for the player he is replacing to leave the field

. The player being substituted is not obliged to leave the field of play on the halfway line

. Permission to proceed with a substitution may be refused under certain circumstances, e.g. if the substitute is not ready to enter the field of play

. A substitute who has not completed the substitution procedure by setting foot onto the field of play cannot restart play by taking a throw-in or corner kick

. If a player who is about to be replaced refuses to leave the field of play, play continues

. If a substitution is made during the half-time interval or before extra time, the procedure is to be completed before the second half or extra time kicks off

This, to me anyway shows the ole 'Ref Sub' crap has irritated someone in a position to tell us how it's done. You'll please note that in the second sentence there is the statement 'Has Been Requested'. Does this not indicate someone had to make a request before the signal? In Law 3 on page 17 the following appears:

the referee must be informed before any proposed substitution is made

This statement means before NOT when. So having the ball go out of play or the referee stopping play then a coach having the light come on then yelling the proverbial 'Ref Sub' just tells the referee crew he is thinking about substituting a player at some future time because he is just not notifying someone BEFORE the proposed substitution is made. As I have said before, 'Yo coach, if you want me to ignore this part of Law 3 what other things do you want me to ignore? Perhaps when I can expel a member of the technical staff or what constitutes a legal goal for your side?'

Regards,