Question Number: 21212

Law 4 - Players Equipment 4/28/2009

RE: USL-1 Professional

James of Austin, TX USA asks...

This is a question about in-game uniform changes:

Recently at a USL-1 game an Austin Aztex player was asked to leave the field by a match official for bleeding. Once he left the pitch the trainer cleaned him up, stopped the bleeding, covered it and he came to the halfway line to return, only to be turned back by the fourth official who noticed blood down the side of the players jersey.

The player proceeds to take a jersey from a player who is on the bench and wear it. He is now wearing a jersey with a different number as well as a different name.

Is an in game uniform change acceptable and if so what is the procedure for the referee if the player changes numbers?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Many teams do not have the wherewithall to have complete sets of duplicate jerseys. The 4th official will note the change in player number (and in this case name) and communicate it to the ref. In lower level games, the ref will have to be informed directly about a change in number before the player can enter.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The process is one of courtesy and simple exchange of information. No official wants to delay a player from rightfully entering the game on a pretext of the jersey being changed. The recreational level informs the AR and referee. At the televised levels be sure everyone gets the message.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

USSF put out a position paper on Oct. 21, 2008 relating to Player Jerseys and what the fourth official or AR are permitted to do in order to get a player back into the game as quickly as possible, while still meeting the requirements of safety and the strictures of the Laws.

Wearing another person's jersey is the last permissible choice, with the name masked, and the number noted on the game report as now belonging to the player wearing it. Usually this will be the jersey of a substituted player, or a substitute who will now be removed from the roster for the remainder of the game.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

This is the paper Michelle was talking about it. Keep in mind that this was a playoff match too.

http://69.16.133.103:80/v7c5x3f7/cds/Documents/cms/ussf/Player%20Jerseys.pdf?dopvhost=images.ussoccer.com&doppl=17729c7b5e884303&dopsig=a2ca74c86aa47e86b6e301ce72be3770

Hope this helps.