Question Number: 21800

Law 9 - The Ball in and out of Play 8/18/2009

RE: Rec Under 15

Kyle Hamlin of Tipp City, Ohio United States asks...

A ball in play is about to roll out of bounds, but before it does, the ball strikes a substitute who is standing on the touchline, causing the ball to stay in the field of play. What should the referee do??

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

What *should* the referee do? Following the Law exactly, the substitute should be cautioned for entering the field of play (although the caution is recorded as Unsporting Behavior) and the restart is an indirect free kick.

Now look for any extenuating circumstances.

Why was the sub allowed to be so close to the line? Was there any laxity on your part or the AR's part in having the teams stay within their technical areas? (Even if one is not painted, subs and yes, even wandering coaches, should be at least a yard or two off the touchline.) You wouldn't want to caution a player for doing only what you have allowed all game long.

Was this an upper level match, or a recreational or low-level competitive league? There you could get away with a chewing out followed by a dropped ball.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Ref Voshol gave the correct alternatives under the laws.

Let me suggest some heresy. Burn me at the stake stuff. Use only when the match is a game for the enjoyment of the players.

Watch the players. If they stop playing, and are trying to figure out what to do next, stop play and choose the appropriate response from Ref Voshol (caution and IFK, or warn and dropped ball).

But, if a player grabs the ball for a quick throw-in, exactly as would have happened if the ball had completely crossed the touchline before striking the sub, let her take the throw-in. If everyone is happy with a throw- in and no one is gaining an unfair advantage from the fact that the substitute was in the wrong place, then treat it as trifling and let the match continue. (If the players all act as if the ball left the field of play before touching the sub, then the ball 'must have' left the field of play before touching the sub. The referee doesn't need to see everything the referee sees.)

Our little secret.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

(1)The substitute is required to be OFF the field until signalled in by the referee at the appropriate time!
If he is on the touchline then he is ON the field illegally without the permission of the referee, this is an indfk offence and cautionable show a yellow card.

(2)If he was not on the touchline or inside the field but just outside the field and the ball struck him but did not completely cross over the touchline boundary it is a drop ball restart with a warning to stay further back.

Perhaps one might see our 2nd situation in ahem a clearer fashion?

As my colleagues indicate as to the necessity of seeing this as a reason to find fault and caution? While I agree it might not be necessary to do so, I feel we must ensure no unfair advantage as in a quick restart to break away or confusion results from a misguided attempt to ignore the circumstances. While one can bend the law to accommodate an accepted direction the players are happy to follow assessors are often notoriously fussy on points of law and players quick to complain if there is perceived unfairness!

Cheers

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

See Question: 21902