Question Number: 25921

Law 3 - Number of Players 1/25/2012

RE: Rec and Competitive

Paul G of Coppell, TX USA asks...

I was watching a high school game - the event in question was at the end of the first half - typically in high school games there is an official clock and generally no added time - Team 'A' has a corner kick as the clock is winding down - they take the kick and time expires. About 5 seconds after time expires, a player on Team 'B' viciously kicks a player on Team 'A' resulting in an injury - the referee issues a red card - this was after time expired and but between the halfs.
The player was ejected but when the game resumed in the second half Team B did not have to play down a man. Is this the correct procedure?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The high school referees followed the correct procedure.

NFHS rules differ from the laws of the game. A team will not play short and may substitute for any player disqualified (the NFHS terminology for a send off) during the half-time interval.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Paul
Clearly one of the differences that exist between USSF/ FIFA games and NFHS games. The referee was correct in a NFHS game whereas in a USSF game the team would play short.