Question Number: 19024

Law 3 - Number of Players 5/8/2008

RE: select - SLYSA Under 12

David of St. Louis, MO United States asks...

8 on 8.

The other team has substituted players on to the field - but one did not come off.

The team scored and upon line up - it is discovered that they had one too many players on the field. The player ran off without informing the referees - but they noticed it and said nothing.

This happened at least two more times without a goal being scored - but none of the officials said a word or cautioned the other team.

What is the penalty for having too many players on the field? A player realizes the situation after the bench is yelling at the player and simply exits the field - is a penalty assessed? What is the penalty and where should restart occur?

What is the proper action to take when a goal is scored? Should it be disallowed if it occurs before restart?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Upon finding out there were 9 players on the scoring side, the referee should waive off the goal and restart with an indirect free kick for the defenders from the goal area. Since I'm virtually positive your area uses free subs, I can just about guarantee the extra player was there because the referee did not follow proper substitution procedure. If the referee had insisted subs stay off the field until the player they are subbing for is completely off the field, this would not happen. Coaches and players hate it when we insist on following procedure but this is what happens when you don't. The extra player may be cautioned but since it's the referee's fault the players was on the field, most will not caution. Theoretically, anytime a player enters or leaves the field without permission of the referee, that player may be cautioned and shown the yellow card

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Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Coach David, it is your lucky day! Normally we answer just one question at a time but I am going to give a five for one deal! That’s an 80% discount! Here it is.
Q: What is the penalty for having too many players on the field? A: Caution the illegal substitute. If play was stopped for this reason, restart with IFK where ball was when game was stopped (* except for special circumstances of Law 8) Q: A player realizes the situation after the bench is yelling at the player and simply exits the field - is a penalty assessed? A: Yes, if ref sees it and stops game as above. Q: What is the penalty and where should restart occur? A: As above. Q: What is the proper action to take when a goal is scored? A: If noticed before restart goal kick. But if referee signalled end of the game at that point he may not change the goal. Q: Should it be disallowed if it occurs before restart? A: Yes, disallow goal. Unless the ref blew to end the game, when it has to stand.
Now these are normally for 11vs11 and there may be special league rules on 8vs8.


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