Question Number: 30052

Law 4 - Players Equipment 1/27/2016

RE: Other

Gareth Roberts of Machynlleth, Powys United Kingdom asks...

Can a Player Manager leave the technical area to warm up?
Would he be allowed to give instruction to his players while doing so?
If his side were given a penalty would he be allowed to ''warm up'' behind that goal and distract their Goalie?
And would he be allowed to instruct other Subs to warm up in specific areas so that they could pass on instructions during the game?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Gareth
Player managers are treated slightly differently than manager only. First off they can be shown cards for indiscipline which includes dissent, unsporting behaviour and delaying the restart of play and they also have to follow the guidelines set down by the referee in respect of warming up. Most games have a designated warm up area and also the numbers of substitutes allowed to warm up at a time is restricted. So it would be rare to allow behind the goal warm ups yet on tight grounds it can and does happen. Also if a substitute is warming up that is what he should be doing only . It is not an opportunity to leave the technical area to coach or pass on instructions. If a player manager was doing that he would be requested to refrain or else return to the technical area.