Question Number: 15094

Law 3 - Number of Players 4/1/2007

RE: Grade 8 Under 17

Justin of Midlothian, Virginia United States asks...

Hi,

During my U-16 game today (game I played in), the opposing team played with 12 players for about 5 minutes before the ref realized they had too many players. The ref told the team to have one of their players go off the field quickly during a stoppage. My question is, should more have been done then just telling the team to have one of their players go off the field? I also ref and have never seen a rule on what should happen if a team plays with too many players and the ref doesn't realize they have too many players.

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The answer to your question can be found in ADvice To Referees On The Laws of the Game in section 3.17 of the 2006 issue. If you are a referee, you should have a copy. In short, the referee must stop play, identify the extra player, caution him and remove him from the field of play. If the player cannot be identified the referee should seek assistance from the captain. I can just about guarantee you that your center referee decided the rules for substututions outlined in Law 3 were too cumbersome for him and he allowed players and subs to run on and off the field at will. If a referee does this he will soon find out why the LOTG set forth rules for substitutions. I'm also willing to bet this referee allowed coaches to yell "Sub Ref" and start the process themselves. Referees should instill in players at the youngest possible age proper substitution procedure. The substitute is to be on the center line ready to come on, The substitute is NOT to ebter the field of play until the player he is subbing for has complatetly left the field AND the referee beckons him on. I had a U 12 rec game last week and I finally went to the coach and told him next sub that hits the field before I say so is going to be cautioned. For the rest of the game he held the subs until I beckoned him. As this referee found out, Law 3 is there for a reason.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The referee should have -

1. Stopped game immediately.
2. Gave the extra player (player that left field) a caution.
3. Restarted match with IFK for not guilty team at location of ball when match was stopped.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The referee is required by the laws of the game to caution the 12th player. If the ball was in play when this was discovered he would stop play, issue the caution, order the 12th player back to the bench, and restart play with an indirect free kick. If this was discovered while the ball was out of play, the game would restart in accordance with the reason the ball was out of play.

Now in this case the referee was lucky that a goal had not been scored during this time. This is why it is very important to manage the substitutions well and have your AR's (if you have them) assist you in managing the sub procedure.

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