Question Number: 33762

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 11/8/2019

RE: Competitive Adult

David Rosenblatt of Encino, California United States asks...

A Blue Team player has a breakaway, with only the Red Team goalkeeper between the Blue Team player and the goal. Suddenly a Red Team substitute runs onto the field and makes a careless tackle from behind, bringing down the Blue Team player before he can shoot. The Blue Team player is shown the red card for depriving an obvious goal scoring opportunity. Does the Blue Team then play the game with 10 or 11 players? What is the proper restart?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI David ,
although there is no reduction to the number of players on the FOP the substitute is sent off and cannot participate. This will only reduce the number of available substitutes on the bench not the number of substitution opportunities .

As to punishment for the dastardly deed!
If the substitute had simply kicked the ball away, DOGSO ,red card, send him to the showers & restart wit DFK or Pk. However, you mentioned he tackled with contact? For me that could reach VC (violent conduct) consideration, because there is no ability to legally challenge for that ball, so it is in effect, an attack against a player. I lean VC rather than DOGSO because it usually carries greater penance when it comes to discipline . Perhaps I am overly harsh but in my match no way you get a free shot at a player when you have no right to be on the field at all!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi David,
If a substitute is sent off, the team does not play short. Ask yourself - how is it equitable and fair to send off two individuals, for the actions of just one? On a practical level how could you choose which one of the actual players to send off, when none of them has committed a sending-off offence?

The restart is a direct free kick or penalty, depending on location.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi David
As it is a substitute that committed the denial of an obvious goal scoring opportunity the team does not play short.
The restart depends on where the offence took place. If it happened inside the penalty area it is a penalty kick. If it happened outside it is a direct free kick.
Have a look at these two videos
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5jaJKgk4g1M
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rBbi9B-2QcI
In the first video it was the actions of a spectator that denied the goal so he is considered an outside agent and nothing can be done other than the person is removed from the ground. The restart is a dropped ball in the penalty area. Fair Play would suggest to me that Blue should fix the situation but that is if no concern to the referee.
In the second one as the physio is on the team sheet he is dismissed and shown a red card and the restart is a penalty kick. At that time before the law change it was a dropped ball restart on interference by technical staff and it was situations like that the Law was changed.
Here is another video
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EYw4rn_6Rzs
This video shows the unintended consequences of the new law and substitutes, team officials interfering with play.
The referee correctly cautioned the substitute for his action and the restart was a penalty kick. One can argue that the ball was going wide so the sanction was harsh yet the law is clear in that if a substitute interferes with play on the field of play the player is sanctioned according to the offence and the restart is a direct free kick or penalty kick. Had the substitute denied a goal or goal scoring opportunity inside the penalty area it would have been a red card and also a penalty kick.
So unlike a player on the field of play when a penalty is awarded in a genuine attempt to play the ball, a player, sent-off player, substitute or substituted player who enters the field of play without the required referees permission and interferes with play or an opponent and denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity is guilty of a sending-off offence.