Question Number: 14949

Law 4 - Players Equipment 3/6/2007

RE: Professional

Tonny Kennedy of Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa asks...

In a penalty shoot out, the last player to take the kick scores and its the winning goal. In his celebration he takes off his jersey and throws it to the crowd. In the meantime, him not realising, the ref has ordered for a retake. In trying to retake the kick, only in a white vest as he cannot recover the jersey from the crowd, the ref refuses him to take the kick until he puts on his jersey. The team didnot have a spare kit for him and the ref refused to have another player take the penalty. Match was abandoned as a result of the fiasco that followed. What is the law on this. May be an interpretation from law 4 am not sure.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The Law is clear, he must wear his kit whilst taking kicks from the mark. He threw his away. Other players are bound by the same Law. Because he is the last kicker no other player may kick until he does. He may not be substituted.

The only solution that comes to mind, a poor one, is a second caution, after the one for removing his shirt, then things can continue... The solution is a players choice NOT the referee's.

Then of course, he can get another jersey from a substitute.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

This is a theory correct? Or did the black hole really open up and swallow us whole? lol. ;o) While we could caution for the removal and recaution for failure to put another one on, once dismissed a new player could take the kick. I would think a teammate could strip off his jersey and give it to the pk kicker. Perhaps a sub off the bench even a teammate who has kicked allready even if that teammate gets a caution. I find it hard to believe the match could not be finished! Law 4 states The basic compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items:
jersey or shirt;
not neccessarily which jersey!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If this happened, the referee followed the Law. I like the idea of a second caution but really don't understand why he can't put somebody else's jersey on that's not participating in the kicks phase. LOTG do not require any names or numbers on the jersey so who cares if it's "not" his?

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

See Question: 14975