Question Number: 22357

Mechanics 10/25/2009

RE: Rec Under 18

Gary Morgan of Culpeper, VA USA asks...

Hello,
A very experienced referee told me at a tournament that a new (memo/directive/etc; not in LOTG) indicates that the only acceptable restart signal after a subsitution is a whistle. I can not find such guidance anywhere. Can you help?

Thank you for all you do!

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The Interpretations and Guidelines, published as a part of the LOTG by FIFA, was not included in the USSF published booklet, due to cost concerns. However, it is required reading and it is the accepted (read required) interpretation. It does say the whistle is required after a substitution has taken place to restart the game (see quote below).

It is available online at either the FIFA website under Laws of the Game, or on the http://www.ussoccer.com/Referees/Laws-of-the-Game.aspx address.

It does say:

76
Use of whistle
The whistle is needed to:
? start play (1st, 2nd half), after a goal
? stop play:
? for a free kick or penalty kick
? if the match is suspended or abandoned
? when a period of play has ended due to the expiration of time
? restart play for:
? free kicks when the appropriate distance is required
? penalty kicks
? restart play after it has been stopped due to:
? the issue of a yellow or red card for misconduct
? injury
? substitution
The whistle is NOT needed to:
? stop play for:
? a goal kick, corner kick or throw-in
? a goal
? restart play from:
? a free kick, goal kick, corner kick, throw-in
A whistle which is used too frequently unnecessarily will have less impact when it is needed. When a discretionary whistle is needed to start play, the referee should clearly announce to the players that the restart may not occur until after that signal.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Morgan
Referee Maloney has kindly quoted the relevant section from FIFA's Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and guidelines for referees. Restarting the game after a substitution with a whistle is nothing new albeit that it is now quoted by FIFA. After any lenthy stop it is always good practise to alert players that the game is now recommencing with a blow of the whistle.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The new requirement for a whistle after a substitution has been added to the USSF Guide To Procedures 2009/2010.