Question Number: 25593

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 10/12/2011

RE: competitive Under 17

W.M. of Houston, TX USA asks...

Scenario 1
Following a legal but unsuccessful tackle, Red#3 is injured and sitting on the ground near the touch line at midfield in front of the AR and in front of Reds technical area. The AR makes no signal, and the CR believes correctly that the injury is not serious so play continues with the attack by Blue. The ball is crossed to the other side of the field and ultimately is collected by the Red GK who punts the ball. When the CR, who had been focused on play, turns up field with the punt, he sees that Red#3 has moved off the field and is having his knee examined and wrapped by his trainer.
Should the CR
(a) stop play, interrupting Reds attack, and caution Red#3 for leaving the field without permission,
(b) allow play to continue and caution Red#3 at the next stoppage, or
(c) assuming Red#3 properly asks permission to return to the field, allow him to return with no caution given?

Scenario 2
Assuming option 1B or 1C above was the CRs intent, with Red attacking but before there is any stoppage of play, the CR sees that Red#3 has reentered the field without requesting permission.
Should the CR
(a) stop play to caution Red#3
(b) allow play to continue and caution Red#3 at the next stoppage

(c) at whichever stoppage is chosen in 2A or 2B, should there be one caution for leaving and/or reentering the field without permission or should there be two separate cautions, one for leaving and another for reentering?

Thanks,
W.M./Houston, TX

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

1. Give the player permission ex post facto to leave the field for treatment. Remind the player he should have asked for permission to leave, and that he will need permission to re-enter.

2. If the player re-enters without permission, now we start talking about a caution. Especially if the ref has told him he needs permission or his entry benefits his team. Stop play, unless you apply advantage for Blue.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Leaving the field to seek medical treatment should not be treated as misconduct.

The player needs the referee's permission to reenter. Someone has been hurt, been attended to, and has returned. It rarely gives any advantage to the injured team or disadvantage to the other team. Is a caution needed for the players? For the game? Usually, the answer is no. A warning and instruction on the need to request permission usually will suffice. So, will asking if the player is ok.

Referees are not required to leave their common sense at home when they leave for a match. The laws are flexible enough to keep the game safe, fair and fun.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
As the player has left the field of play for treatment the AR and CR should accept that it was not misconduct and simply allow play to continue. In fact the player assisted in play continuing without stoppage and I wish more player would do so.
On the re-entry the CR & AR should be proactive and perhaps get a message to the player not to re-enter without permission. That will decide if the player should be cautioned or not should he fail to heed that instruction.
The other factor that has to be taken into account is whether the player's re-entry has given his team a tactical advantage such as getting involved immediately in play when the opponents did not factor that in. Examples would be where the ball is kicked into space near the sideline and the player gets involved by coming onto the FOP or a player is dribbling up the wing and the player rushes on to challenge him. That is unfair and a caution would be appropriate in those circumstances.