Question Number: 21705

Law 3 - Number of Players 7/27/2009

RE: Competitive Adult

Gil of Ann Arbor, MI USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 21694

I think you guys missed the subtlety of the question. Or I read a subtlety in that wasn't there....

So, the team calls for a substitution: #10 out, #13 in. We are good refs and use proper substitution mechanics, and we wait for #10 to leave the field before beckoning #13 on. #10 has stepped off the field. We are about to beckon #13 on when we notice the necklace/earings/lack-of-shinguards/whatever. We tell #13 to correct the problem. Assume that correcting the problem takes more than a couple of seconds (he needs to run to his car to get his shinguards).

So, is #13 a player or a substitute? Is #10 a player or a substituted player? Neither is an outside agent, of course, but as we all know, the decision on this point affect a number of important things (e.g. Violent Conduct by a non-player does not cause a team to play short).

As I read (2007) ATR 3.5, we deny the substitution, tell #10 that he is still a player, and tell #13 to inform the AR when he is fully prepared to participate, and that we will conduct the substitution at the next opportunity after that. Until then #13 is still a substitute.

Correct?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Someone in SE Mich who follows proper substitution mechanics? Will wonders never cease.

You don't technically 'deny the substitution', but you inform the players that the substitution is not complete. The team is able to put player #10 back onto the field, or play down until substitute #13 is properly equipped and ready to go in. If they choose to play down, #10 continues to be a player until #13 properly enters the field.

Law 3, Substitution Procedure:
? the substitution is completed when a substitute enters the field of play
? from that moment, the substitute becomes a player and the player he has replaced becomes a substituted player

This might be different from the question in 21694, which asks about a "nominated player". The Laws of the Game have no such animal, but there are "nominated substitutes": those persons on the roster who may become called upon to substitute into the game for a player. Our answers in 21694 considered whether the ill-equipped player was one of the starting 11 or was a nominated substitute. If the former, then there is no substitution procedure to follow.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

In your example the substitution was never completed as the substitute never entered the field of play. Hence, even though #10 left the field of play, he is still a player and we simply tell him to come back onto the field

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Gil - a good question.

The laws say that the substitution has been completed when the substitute enters the field of play.

In your scenario this does not occur, thus #13 is still a sub, and #10 is still a player - and may return to the field of play (with permission) until #13 is ready to come on.

If #13 so much as put a toe on the line then was told to leave to correct his equipment, the substitution has been completed and #13 is now a player.