Question Number: 19790

Law 4 - Players Equipment 8/20/2008

RE: Rec Adult

Warren of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19727

Hi Panel,

With due respect, I think the original question here has not been answered.

I think the questioner is essentially asking why the Ref allowed the player to re-enter the field after changing his boots WITHOUT waiting for a stoppage in play, as this appears to be in direct violation of Law 4.

I am assuming that the AR (as opposed to the Ref) was quite legally able to give the original direction to the player to leave the field to finish changing his boots in accordance with Law 6 'The ARs also assist the referee to control the match in accordance with the LOTG'.

I think the main question here is to do with the re-entry while the ball was in play.

I suspect the questioner is asking whether the leaving of the field could somehow have been classified as a voluntary leaving of the field with the (assistant) referee's permission and therefore he was likewise given the referee's permission to re-enter even though the ball was in play.

The nub of the question it seems to me is whether the referee has that discretion, or whether this was by definition a 'player is directed to leave the field of play to correct his equipment' situation (the moment he removed his boots he was in violation of Law 4) and therefore he should only have been allowed to re-enter at a stoppage of play.

Perhaps you need to take another look at the original question ?

Cheers,

Warren.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Warren, the player left 'with permission'. He can reenter with permission during play.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

For this equipment change the AR allowed the player to leave and he may also allow him to re-enter if he was delegated that authority which we are told he was