Question Number: 34751

Law 5 - The Referee 11/5/2022

Petr of Prague, Czech Republic Czech Republic asks...

Hello,

one situation, please.

'Three players (two from team A and one from team B) need treatment on the field.'

Do they stay on the field after treatment or go behind the line?

Thank you very much!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Petr,
sorry mate it will depend on circumstances.
The whole idea is to BE SAFE and yet not WASTE TIME!

Generally, once the referee gives their permission for first aid to be rendered and technical area personal enter the field of play, the player must leave on a stretcher or on foot. That can be at the nearest touch or goal line and that player may only re-enter after play has restarted, if the ball is in play, re-entry must be from the touchline but if the ball is out of play, it may be from any boundary line.

The LOTG were amended to allow for treatment on the FOP without players having to leave under CERTAIN conditions.

Exceptions to the requirement to leave the field of play to be treated are only when:
• a goalkeeper is injured
• a goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided and need attention
• players from the same team have collided and need attention
• a severe injury has occurred
• 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
• a penalty kick has been awarded and the injured player will be the kicker.

Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Patr
My good colleague Referee Dawson has listed from the law book those times when player/s need not leave the field of play for treatment.

In run of the mill injuries it is required that players must leave the field of play before play can be restarted.

In your example the answer depends on the circumstances. If it was a collisions between the players then there is no requirement for the three players to leave the field of play.
It would be unfair for two players from the same team to stay on the field of play as allowed for in the law while an opponent would have to leave. Such a decision would be challenged as unfair so the best decision is to let all three remain.

Anyway it would be a pretty rare event for three players to be injured at the same time so it is not going to test many referees on a decision.