Question Number: 20044

Law 4 - Players Equipment 9/23/2008

RE: COMPETIVE High School

WARREN of NASHVILLE, tn usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20025

The law on the loss of a shoe is interesting because it certainly suggests that if the player does not 'immediately' pass the ball or shoot then there is an infringement and play would stop.
OK I'll shut up now.
PS- I brought this question up at my refereee association (Middle Tennessee Soccer Officials Association) meeting with the same result....almost eveybody disagreed with me.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Do not forget Warren as referee your opinion is the one that the match will ultimately accept as the decision. If you can accept the fact that the equipment malfunction was not a purposeful thing then you can simply tell the player fix that before you continue.
You are not totally incorrect to think that ANY continued playing by a player minus mantitory equipment is going to be permitted. We are talking reasonable circumstances in both recognizing the problem and sufficent time to do something about it. Reverse things a bit imagine an attacker on a break away being chased by a defender who loses a shinguard or drops a shoe in a muddy pitch.You want him to stop chasing the attacker? Do you play advantage? Are you thinking I will stop this attack and award an indfk to them instead of allowing the break away? Is he going to be cautioned for trying to stop a goal against his team because you are yelling at him you let that attacker shoot you have no shoe so stop chasing him?
Yes he could slide a sock foot under the cleats and come out badly hurt possibly even fouled the opponent and sent off for DOGSO. It is not that we disagree about safety only the acceptable risks that need not always be avoided.
The thing about beating your own drum and stepping to your music not all music sounds the same but the variety of it entertains us all.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The footwear comes off and play should continue. He should make sure it is corrected by the time the ball next goes out of play and before play is restarted. The referee should be reasonable in allowing the player to continue the teams attack, but he should also make an effort to correct his gear as soon as reasonably possible.