Question Number: 35852

Law 8 - The Start and Restart of Play 1/2/2025

RE: Adult

Patrick Strode of Plymouth, United Kingdom asks...

Scenario: attacking player shoots. Ball hits defender and goes out for a throw in.
Defender who the ball struck goes down hurt as a result of the ball hitting them.
How does the game restart?
A.) Throw in to the attacking side
B.) Drop ball

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Patrick,
In the situation as described (with no mention of the referee stopping play for a serious injury to a player, requiring immediate attention, before the ball went out of play) the game restarts with a throw in to the attacking team.

Once the ball is already out of play, the restart cannot be changed.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Patrick
Thanks for the question.
I concur with colleague Referee Grove. The game will restart with a throw in as the ball was already out of play when play was stopped.

It would only be a DB if the referee stopped play to deal with an injury. When the ball is already out of play there is no need to stop play yet rather not allow the restart until the injury is dealt with.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Patrick.
I concur with my colleagues, given there was no foul or misconduct that occurred prior to the ball exiting into touch, the throw in is the correct restart. If the ball had remained on the FOP or if the throw in was taken quickly and the injured player remained down and play then was stopped a DB is now plausible. A proactive referee might not permit the throw in restart due to recognizing the player BEING injured thus get him treatment and then restart with the delayed throw in.
Cheers