Question Number: 21694

Law 4 - Players Equipment 7/25/2009

RE: rec Adult

alex of richmond hill, ontario canada asks...

A nominated player with his name on the game sheet was refused to enter field of play because of equipment issues (maybe ear rings or hard cast, etc). Before he correct his equipment problem (or simply did nothing to correct his equipment problem) while sitting on the team's bench, do we considered him to be a substitute or an outside agent?

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Alex, once he is legally on the team list the only way he can become an outside agent is to be sent off and shown a red card. Otherwise he is one of three things: player, substitute or substituted player. (Unless his name is James Bond - then he is definitely an outside agent.)

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the person was on the 'starter list', he is a player. His status is temporarily off the field to correct an equipment problem - no different than if his shirt got blood on it part way through the game. The team plays short until he is able to correct his equipment. If the team elects to send in a substitute for him, he is done for the day (assuming FIFA no-reentry rules).

If he is not a player but is a nominated substitute, he remains a substitute.

If the equipment cannot be corrected, he will not be able to enter the game at any time. If he was a starter, the team will likely use a substitute. If he was a sub, the team will have one less in the sub pool which they can call upon later in the game.

He certainly is not an outside agent. That is defined in the Laws: 'Anyone not indicated on the team list as a player, substitute or team official is deemed to be an outside agent, as is a player who has been sent off.'

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

I assume we're talking about a player who is supposed to be one of the on-field 11 - say, before the start of the game, and by 'not being allowed on the field', it means his team is playing with 1 less player?

In which case, this player is still considered to be a player, in the same way that he would be if he has to leave the field during the game to correct his equipment, or even if he leaves the field to attend to an injury, or any other reason where he has left the field of play with the permission of the referee.

While he will need the permission of the referee to enter the field - and succumb to an on-field equipment check by the official - he is still considered one of the players, not a substitute.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If he's on the game card he's either a player or a substitute, not an outside agent. If he's a starter he becomes a substitute if he doesn't correct the problem. If he can correct the problem then he is allowed back onto the field as a player

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

See Question: 21705