Question Number: 24549

Law 5 - The Referee 2/2/2011

RE: Competitive Adult

Ken Ross of Manhattan, Kansas United States asks...

During play an attacker shadowed by a defender uses the referee as a 'pick' to make more room for the attacker to continue. The collision knocks the referee down, and the referee is unconscious. The attackers are in the attacking third and the game is tight with little time left and this could decide the game. The AR's are involved in their responsibilities. Would the trailing AR call for a dead-ball? If the referee is down and not with play, who calls the dead ball to see to the referee who is still down?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

HI Ken
Once the referee in unconcious then play must stop. The only possible exception is the ball that deflects off the referee into the goal. If it is seen by the AR then a goal can be awarded. In general though there is no possible other way for the game to continue with an incapacitated referee and both ARs should verbally stop the game.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee, or frankly, any player who remains unconscious after a head injury needs immediate medical attention. This is a serious, life threatening injury. Both assistant referees should act to stop the match immediately and contact emergency services. It is not time to care about jurisdiction among senior and junior assistant referees.

To think about whether time is short or letting play continue might decide the match is cruel. Let common sense prevail. Soccer is just a game.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Once the referee goes down play stops whether the AR s act on it or not. An unconscious referee cannot call a game and is in need of immediate medical attention.

Once atended to and removed from the field, one of the ARs or 4th official may assume the referee's duties as covered in pregame. I always designate one of my ARs to take over if something happens to me and I cannot continue.