Question Number: 20321

Mechanics 10/20/2008

RE: Competitive Adult

Jack of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 20293

I beg to differ for the restart in the case of a substituted player. Both Referees Maloney and Contarino claimed the restart would be a dropped ball. However, the Laws say otherwise:

If a substitute or a SUBSTITUTED PLAYER enters the field of play without
permission:
? the referee must stop play (although not immediately if the player in question does not interfere with play or if the advantage can be applied)
? the referee must caution him for unsporting behaviour
? the player must leave the field of play

If the referee stops play, it must be restarted with an INDIRECT FREE KICK
for the opposing team from the position of the ball when play was stopped (see Law 13 " Position of Free Kick).

I think you guys were confused with a sent-off player, which is a dropped ball restart, as sent-off players are treated as outside agents, right?

Enough nit-picking, I do have a question: In the case of a sub or subbed player entering the field, would you caution for the USB then send-off for OFFINABUS? Or would just the send-off for OFFINABUS suffice? Obviously this would make a difference with accumulated cautions and such, I'd just like to hear your approach, that's all. The main problem I see is that the mechanics could bear a resemblance to second caution, and could be very confusing.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Jack, I respectfully disagree with your reading of our answers. We specifically said a sub who enters the field will cause an IDFK restart from where the ball was located.

The dropped ball restart is if the referee must stop play to deal with asub who is OFF the field but who is spewing OIAL. The original question did not tell us where the person being sent off for OIAL was located, so the answers covered all possibilities. Read it again.

As for the mechanics, if the sub entered the field, he is cautioned for UB since he entered without permission and if he then spewed the OIAL, he is sent off. The game report will list the appropriate reasons for any disciplinary board to use. It really doesn't matter how it appears on the field, does it? Either way, the sub is gone, done, headed for the showers.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

We are often confused just no sure here is where! ;o)
I think you should reread the original answers.

In rereading my colleague's answers I see where they specified the location of the misconduct and who did it and when. A substitute who DOES not enter the field but is spewing forth verbal garbage from beyond the touchlines if we stop play solely to show him a card it is a drop ball because nothing occurred on the field. The substitute did not enter the pitch. Law 12 allows us to award an indfk if we stop play too solely to show a card to a player or substitute on the field.

Restarts are dependant on three things
who did it? player, substitute, substituted player, or outside agents dismissed rostered players or dismissed rostered substitutes, non rostered participants, coach or technical support personal, spectator, fan, dog, bird or whatever

where was it done ? on or off the field in or out of the penalty area

when was it done? ball in or out of play.

In cases where there is a direct red card required I usually go to the direct red and although I will tell the player I only record the other cautionable action in the match report. I see no purposer to show a yellow card for entering the field without permission then another red card for yelling impropriety. The cautionable action is not a second caution getting him sent off he committed a direct red offence and a single red shows that distinctly in my opinion. Especially if the direct red occurs for an action outside the field first.

A rather important distinction though is the restart being drop or infdfk places some onuses on the referee to think a bit. If a substitute OFF the field yelled to an opponent on the field, ?I am going to get you, you blankety blank blank! and then ran onto the field to do it Do we accept the offinabus as occurring first as a direct red off the field and drop ball or since he ran unto the field play advantage and award the indfk instead?
I like INDFK as the offence off the field was followed by another on the field
Cheers

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

See Question: 20347