Question Number: 24723

Law 3 - Number of Players 3/22/2011

RE: competive Under 13

thierry le roux of carlisle, cumbria england asks...

hi,if the opposition team as only 6 player instead of 7 ,could i still play my 7 players ?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Thierry
It is against the Laws of the Game to start a game with less than 7 players in an 11 v 11 game. If a team goes below 7 players during a game IFAB has left the decision to continue with associations. However the FA has decided that a team must have 7 players for the game to continue.
If it is a small sided game it is usually covered in the competition rules. In the absence of a rule where a team has fewer players than its opponents there is no requirement to 'equate'.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I presume from your question that you normally play 7v7? That is a league competition rule, and the league rules will also cover (or more likely not cover) the case when one team only has 6 players.

In a full-size 11v11 game, if Team A has only 10 players, they play with 10. There is nothing that requires Team B to sit one of their players to make up for the fact that Team A wasn't prepared for the match.

Some recreational leagues have unspoken 'gentlemen's agreements' that teams will play at equal strengths.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Unless you are playing small sided, if one team can only field 6 players, the match is over. If you are playing 7v7, unless there is a local rule requiring you to play down, you should be free to play 7.

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

See Question: 24731