Question Number: 3031

Law 3 - Number of Players

RE: Adult

chuck drake of Big Rapids, MI asks...

Right before kick-off to start the 2nd half, an out-ot-control red player swears at a blue player(well, well beyond 'darn you'). Tournament rules call for an ejection (red card) and dismissal from the rest of the tournament. Question: Does the red team continue with one less player (the game has begun) - or is a substitution allowed since play was offically stopped for half-time?..Any difference if the offending player had been off the field.

Answer provided by Referee Dawson

Hi Chuck,.Although play is temporarily suspended the players are still subject to the rules. Even before a game has begun and after a game has ended the players are under the authority of the referee. The player is red carded and sent off and in a FIFA match that team would play shorthanded whether or not that player did his deed on or off the FOP or during halftime. .Now there could be exceptions made if a substitution was all ready in progress particularily in youth leagues where players that start the second half were not on the FOP at the end of the first half. Best to inform your players to behave at all times..A player can be shown a Card prior to the start of a match. In that instance just that player is affected but if the card is yellow he carries it into the game. If the card is red he can not play but his team can use another player to replace him without playing a man down. Also at the ending of a match a player who does a similar action can again be carded and the consequences would carry over to the next game for disciplinary hearings. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Starr

I agree with Mr. Dawson. The problem in this situation is trying to determine if the individual who has been sent off was a player on the field when the whistle was blown to end the half or not. In a high level match this is not a problem as the number of substitutions is limited and noted on the game card. However, in a youth game we usually don't keep track of who comes on and who leaves.If you memory is good you may remember if the player was on the field or not. He may hae been a trouble maker or one of the stars of the team that stands out in your mind. If you know definitely that he was on the field he is sent off and may not be replaced. If you and your referee team are not sure, sent the player off and refer to your local league rules. If the situation occured in my game and I was not sure I would allow the sent-off player/substitute to be replaced.