Question Number: 30442

Law 13 - Free Kicks 5/21/2016

RE: Select Under 15

andy singer of lexington, ma USA asks...

It is legitimate for a referee to stop play if a player's shoe comes off and he is bent over putting it back on in the middle of active play?
IE to protect the player's safety in a U12 game?
Also, if it is legitimate, what is the correct restart - dropped ball?
Thank you,
Andy

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Andy,
If a player's shoe or shinpad comes off the referee is not obligated to stop play immediately. Play continues, and if the equipment is still not corrected at the next stoppage the laws state that the player must leave the field to correct his equipment, then reenter once play has resumed with the referee's permission.
In the meantime, the player can continue to play with the missing equipment, but the referee needs to consider the safety to that player. There are no restrictions on how long the player can be involved for - so he can certainly run up field and score a goal.
However, if that player enters into a challenge with an opponent or puts themselves into a position where a challenge from an opponent is likely, then the referee should then stop play. The reason for the stoppage is that the player has put themselves into a dangerous position, so should be penalised with an Indirect Free Kick for PIADM.

The only reason I could potentially see for stopping play quickly and awarding a drop ball would be if the equipment came off in heavy traffic - say, while a number of players are challenging the ball in a closed space in a challenge that does on for some time. Then, it's not the players fault the shoe came off but he is immediately at risk, but through no fault of his own.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Andy
Play does not need to be stopped for the loss of a shoe. Play should only be stopped if the player continues to play without the shoe and there is a danger to the player from opponents challenging the shoeless player. In that case it is playing in a dangerous manner by the shoeless player and an indirect free kick restart. If the ball is played away by the shoeless player there is no offence.
Now if a player is kneeling down and putting on a shoe in an area that there is likely to be play and there is a danger to the kneeling player then the referee can stop. The restart is a dropped ball from where the ball was when play was stopped.