Question Number: 23349

Law 5 - The Referee 5/20/2010

RE: Club Under 15

David M of Corona, CA USA asks...

Recently, we had a game where a free kick foul was called against the other team and we went to take a quick kick, when the referee stopped us and allowed the other team to bring in substitutes. We were not happy and questioned the ref after the match. He said there was a rule change in our Coast Soccer League that said you could sub at any 'stoppage in play'. This seems to go against the spirit of the game and it was used effectively as a time out throughout the game. Is this being properly applied?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The laws of the game do not have any restrictions upon when a team can make a stoppage - so by the laws of the game, the referee was correct in allowing the team to bring on substitutions (However, denying the substitution at that point may well have been correct in law too, although referees are typically taught that they have no right to blatantly deny a substitution).

I understand what you're saying about the spirit of the game and I agree completely - that why I, and many other referees, will often develop a sudden onset of deafness when the defending team calls for a sub in this fashion.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
The referee has done nothing wrong in Law and in fact a substitution can only happen at a stoppage in play. There may have been a competition rule that only allowed substitutions at TI, CK, GK and perhaps that what the referee was refering to as having changed?
On a QFK I believe the referee should allow the kick to happen. It however is a matter for the referee on the day based on the circumstances. I certainly would not allow a team to 'delay' the restart to its advanatage after committing a foul by making a substitution. Indeed the substitution process would need to be ready before I will allow it.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Unless those substitutes were up at the halfway line and ready to come in BEFORE the stoppage, I would not allow them in and would indicate the team could proceed with the QFK.

The Laws do not allow the referee to hold up the restart of the game for substitutions when the substitute is not properly requested - i.e. not checked in with the 4th official or team side AR and/or at the halfway line, appropriately dressed when the stoppage occurs.

Too many times in youth games, the referee allows the coach yelling 'Sub, ref!' to send his players in from the bench, which causes delays and is unfair to the opponent. This is not what 'at any stoppage' is meant to cover. Proper procedures would cure a great deal of this kind of gamesmanship or just plain poor mechanics by the referee team and the coaches.

However, if the proper procedure has been followed - the subs are up and ready at the halfway line before the stoppage, the referee should allow the substitution to occur - unless he either didn't see or hear the request.

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

See Question: 23371