Question Number: 30421

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/16/2016

RE: Competitive High School

Kristine Marohl of East Wenatchee, WA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23444

Situation this weekend, BU13 club game. Play had stopped (due to ball going over touchline) and teams were given permission by head ref to make substitutions. A player on the field from one team takes the opportunity to run over to his sideline to remove his undershirt. He removes his jersey while running over. Then, off the field he takes off the undershirt, puts his jersey back on and returns to the field. All before play is restarted. The AR flags this and tells the head ref to caution the player for removing his jersey. This is a second yellow for the player, so he is ejected from the game. I think the AR made too big a deal out of this and could have just verbally told the player to wait until he was off the field next time before removing his jersey. The coach is now protesting the game. What is your opinion?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kristine
Perhaps the caution for leaving the field of play without the referees permission? Perhaps there is a local rule about jersey removal?
At the highest levels of the game players know not to cross over a boundary line without permission unless it is part of play such as momentum, to take a restart, recover a ball etc. To move into the technical area without permission is technically a cautionable offence. Now many referees may let it slide with a warning to the player or simply see it as trifling by ignoring it. I suspect had the player pulled off his shirt on the field of play and threw the undershirt into the technical area there might not have been a caution? Perhaps in hindsight had the player asked permission none of that would have arisen.
As regards the protest I doubt very much if it will succeed as the referee was entitled to caution for this. Just because it is a soft caution does not negate its legality.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Kristine,
There are two possibilities for the caution. One is the leaving the field of play without permission of the referee and the other is for an excessive act to focus attention on oneself. Either of these might apply. Also, your state high school association may have rules about removing the jersey while on the field. In my state, removing the jersey on the field would result in a $500 fine for the school. High school athletics are an extension of the classroom and high school soccer rules have education of the student athlete as a primary goal. Also, protests of high school rules are not permitted, so I do not believe the protest is valid. Hopefully, you will have a successful spring season.

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