Question Number: 31177

Law 3 - The Players 1/13/2017

RE: Adult

Player of Syd, Nsw Aus asks...

Hi

Can injured play who gets treatment go off field behind goal or is It only sideline?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
They can go off behind the goal for treatment yet they can only enter from the touchline while the ball is in play which is the vast majority of the time. If the player wants to enter from the goal line the ball has to be out of play for that to happen.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Ref McHugh has already given the correct response to your query as it is written but your question seems to be predicated on the assumption that a player who has had treatment always has to leave the field.

However, it is perhaps worth mentioning that under the latest Laws changes, an injured player does not necessarily have to leave the field at all, even after medical personnel have entered the field - but only if two conditions are met. These are when:

1. ''a player is injured as the result of a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned or sent off (e.g. reckless or serious foul challenge)''

and

2. ''the assessment/treatment is completed quickly''

In the 'Practical Guidelines for Match Officials' section it is further specified that 'quickly' means that:

''As a general guide, the restart should not be delayed for more than about 20–25 seconds beyond the point when everyone was ready for play to restart. ''

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 31340