Question Number: 31504

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/1/2017

RE: High School

Russ Goertzen of Windsor, On Canada asks...

A player issued a yellow card for a foul committed on the field. He is then substituted off. He is off the field and his named substitute has entered the field of play. Play has not yet been restarted. The player coming off then received a second yellow/red for swearing at the official. Does the team play down a man? When is the player going off considered off.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Russ
There can be a few answers here
In FIFA games the substitute does not become a player until the cross over on the touchline between the substitute and the exiting player. That crossover moment is the defining factor in determining who is a player and who is a substitute. If the exiting player is still on the FOP the team plays short due to the player being sent off
In NFHS games the substitute becomes a player when he is beckoned on to the field of play by the referee. That determines who is a player and who is a substitute. Once beckoned on the substituted becomes a player and that is the defining moment. If a substituted player is sent off the team does not play short

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Under the Laws of the Game, which I believe you use in Canada for high school games, the incoming player is not allowed onto the field until the subbed out player leaves the field. He becomes a player when he legally steps onto the field, and at that moment the departing player becomes a substituted player (and in games with right of reentry, he becomes an available sub).

Since you said the substituted player was off the field and the new player was on, then the referee was dismissing a substitute from the bench, not a player from the field. The team would not need to play down.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Russ,
The substitution is completed the moment the substitute steps onto the field of play in accordance with the laws (so, at halfway, after the player has left, and with permission). Play is not required to restart - assuming everything has already occurred in accordance with the laws the substitution is completed. So the team would not lose a player.

If the substitution had not been completed in accordance with the law - for instance, the sub came on before the player left - then the referee would be within his rights to have the on-coming sub leave the field and have the team play down a player.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Russ,
Proper substitutions require NO One to enter the FOP until the player LEAVING has left the FOP. Which is why the subs are held at centre and not permitted to jump into the field until beckoned by the referee.
I believe some high school in Canada require a auto time out for an offence where a player is cautioned & shown the yellow card is shown kind of like sin bin to cool the jets.
If the player exiting is OFF then his conduct is additional misconduct but he is now a substituted player NOT a player.
The substitute HAS entered thus assumed the role of a player.
The 2nd caution followed by the red card effectively ends the rest of the match for our obtuse recently departed player I.
Cheers