Question Number: 33685

Law 3 - The Players 10/2/2019

RE: Amateur Adult

George of Parangarecutirimicuaro , CA Sacratomato asks...

At half time, while both teams are off the field, a player for white earns a red card. Does the white team play one player down the rest of the game?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi George
Yes very simply the team plays short in the second half.
A dismissal with a red card applies at all times including before during and after the game.
Before the kick off the team does not play short and the player can be replaced with a nominated substitute and the substitute cannot be replaced on the bench. After kick off the team plays short. After the game it makes no difference just that the player will be sanctioned with a suspension in the same way as getting sent if during the game.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi George,
Yes, the team would play a man down. There is no exception to the part of the law that says a sent-off player cannot be replaced, just because it is half time.

The law is quite clear on this, stating that:

''A player who is sent off [...] after the kick-off cannot be replaced.''

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi George,
If a player earns a red card at half time then the team would play one player down, just like if they were sent off during game time. If a sub earns the card, then they simply lose a player off the bench.

If it's a player being sent off, then the team may try to pull the wool over the referee's eyes stating they subbed him at the start of halftime. Now, whether it's a game with limited or unlimited substitutions, the process is the same - it's not complete until the player leave the field and the substitute enters the field, and the referee's permission must be obtained.

So, in this instance, give the referee wouldn't have given permission - and the substitute would not have entered the field with the player leaving, regardless of what the team claims they would be a player down.

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

See Question: 33689