Question Number: 19029

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/8/2008

RE: Competitive High School

Daniel of London, Ontario Canada asks...

What would you do if during a game, a player warming up behind a goal and off the field?
Suddenly came on to the field and prevented a
shot ball from entering the goal?

How would you apply the laws in this situation?

What is the correct restart?

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Daniel, we need to establish some correct terminology first. There are (maximum) 22 players, who take part in the game at any time. Then there are substitutes, who sit on the bench and are available to play. Finally there are substituted players, who are finished playing. In most youth games with unlimited subs, a substituted player may take part in the game. “Players” do not “warm up” off the field of play while the game is going on. So I guess you wanted to say a “substitute” is warming up. The correct procedure if the sub is interfering with play is stop the game, caution for USB, show the yellow card and restart with an IFK from where the ball was when the whistle went (*except for special circumstances of Law 8).

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If he stops the ball with his feet, he's cautioned and shown the yellow card. If he stops the ball with his hands, he's sent off for denying a goal by deliberately handling the ball and shown the red card.

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Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Stop play and tell him to go elsewhere as soon as I notice it!!
This was a hmmm question given the FIFA Q@A from previous years said initially only a caution for USB then changed a few years back said if the hands were used we could apply DOGSO and send off show red. The principle being, substitutes are considered to perform misconduct the same as a player and since a player can kick the ball for some reason if the substitute kicks the ball even though he should not be there it is ok. As ludicrous as this is if we are trying to rearrange circumstances to find two cautions as it is possible to play advantage if we see the entry, immediately tell the sub to not participate and leave the field and get him for dissent if, if he does not comply or if he continues to kick the ball. I see no reason to allow this perversion if I can find a way to legally remove this dud from the field. If the handling conditions of DOGSO #4 apply if I understand correctly why the INDFK for the illegal entry of USB is not sufficient for the other DOGSO #5 criteria of a free kick event it is because the ball is not an opponent.
Moral of the story DO NOT allow Substitutes to be warming up in behind their goal!

Sending-Off Offences
A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following offences:
4. denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
5. denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving
towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick
or a penalty kick

A substitute or substituted player is cautioned and shown the yellow
card if he commits any of the following three offences:
1. is guilty of unsporting behaviour
2. shows dissent by word or action
3. delays the restart of play

Substitute or a substituted player
If a substitute or a substituted player enters the field of play without
permission
• the referee shall stop play (although not immediately if the player
in question does not interfere with play or if the advantage can be
applied)
• the referee shall caution him for unsporting behaviour
• the player shall leave the field of play

If the referee stops play, it shall be restarted with an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the position of the ball when play was stopped * (see page 3)

13. A substitute warming up behind his own goal notices that his team is in danger of conceding a goal. He enters the pitch and kicks the ball, thus preventing it from entering the goal. What action shall the referees take?
The referees shall stop play, caution the substitute for entering the
pitch without completing the substitution procedure and award an
indirect free kick to the opposing team from the place where the
ball was located when play was stopped*. The referee shall make an
additional report to the appropriate authorities with a view to possible disciplinary action.
13.1. What if the player commits deliberate handball as part of this
action?
The referees shall stop play, send off the substitute for preventing an
obvious goalscoring opportunity by committing deliberate handball
and restart play with an indirect free kick to the opposing team from
the place where the ball was located when play was stopped*. The
referee shall make an additional report to the appropriate authorities
with a view to possible disciplinary action.
Cheers


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The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

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