Question Number: 34366

Mechanics 10/2/2021

RE: Adult

Tony Carroll of Trowbridge, Wiltshire United Kingdom asks...

In todays game Bournemouth v Sheff Utd a Bournemouth player was fouled in the penalty area and a penalty awarded.
He was injured and received onfield treatment.
I thought the new law was that they had to leave the field until play restarted.
This player didn't and scored from the resultant penalty without leaving the field.
Surely the referee has made an error.
I am an ex senior amateur player, class 1 referee and a county referees assessor for 7 years.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Tony,
what sort of offence? Was there a caution issued?
The new LOTG state that if the tackle was one of physicality where the opponent is cautioned or sent off, if the injured player can be quickly (operative word about 30 seconds) assessed/treated and then remain on the field of play. The referee would then request the medical staff to leave but the player CAN stay if he is able to do so. Chances are he wanted to take that PK so likely stepped up and said he was fine to take it and that also is an exception!

The referee should still be cognitive if they are wasting time but in signalling medical personal he should remind them to be quick & no stretcher is brought out. When the referee decides play should restart the medical personal leave and the player remains or if the assesment shows there needs to be additional treatment THEN the stretcher could be signalled and the player WOULD be asked to leave the FOP to revieve further treatment. The referee should ensure the injury time is extrapolated and added.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tony
This is one of the recent Law changes
The Law now states and I quote
** Exceptions to the requirement to leave the field of play are only when:.....
# 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), if the assessment/treatment is completed quickly
# penalty kick has been awarded and the injured player will be the kicker.

So there was the possibility of two exceptions here. The second one is the more recent addition in that IFAB wants to ensure that the offended against team is not disadvantaged by the illegal action of its opponents that involves a penalty award when there is no caution involved.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Tony,
I wouldn't characterise the change to the law saying that an injured player must leave the field until play restarts if medical personnel have entered the field, as particularly new. It was introduced in 2002, nearly 20 years ago.

What is new - and what was almost certainly the clause in effect here, is the amendment quoted by ref McHugh, saying the injured player does not have to leave the field if a penalty is awarded and they are to take the penalty.