Question Number: 33118

Law 3 - The Players 3/5/2019

RE: Community Adult

Richard Baker of Old Toongabbie, NSW Australia asks...

The referee stops play because a substitute has entered the field of play without the referee's permission. How should the match be restarted under the latest LOTG 2018/2019?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Richard
The advice is that play should only be stopped for interference. If there is no interference with play then play should continue until the next stoppage and the substistute is cautioned and removed from the field of play.
If the game is stopped for interference with play then the restart is a direct free kick from where the interference took place and if that interference is inside the penalty area the restart is a penalty kick.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Richard, the referee should not necessarily stop play if it is advantageous to the opposition to continue.. Should the referee stop play for the interference it is a DFK from where this action occurred not necessarily where the ball is. If inside the defenders own PA then it would be a PK.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Richard,
My colleagues have already given the correct answer to your question but in case you want the actual wording given in the law, it is as follows:

''If a team official, substitute, substituted or sent off player or outside agent enters the field of play the referee must:

only stop play if there is interference with play

have the person removed when play stops

take appropriate disciplinary action

If play is stopped and the interference was by:

a team official, substitute, substituted or sent off player, play restarts with a direct free kick or penalty kick''