Question Number: 15392

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 5/5/2007

RE: Rec Under 15

Brian of Baltimore, MD Baltimore asks...

What if it is half time and the ref and AR's are sitting waiting to start and a player from Team A punches another player from Team B off the field. What is done? What if it was on the field but still half time? Would their be any difference if the ref. blew the whistle to end the game and while both teams were leaving the field a player from Team A punches another player from Team B? What if a player punches a player from the same team?

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Any and all punching players are cordially requested to leave the field, and are shown the red card. OK, the cordially part can be omitted, we're most likely going to be expressing our extreme displeasure with their behavior.

If it happened during the halftime interval, and if it is definite that the puncher was a player on the field at the end of the half, then the team plays short in the second half. If it was the typical youth game, with multitudinous subs, you might have to think long and hard to determine whether the player you are sending off was currently playing at the end of the half, or was on the bench as a sub.

While the principle is that players who are sent off are to leave the field and its surrounds - out of sight and out of sound - we have to be sure in youth games that the player is under adult supervision. If his parents or another adult are there, he can be sent to the parking lot with them. Else he has to remain on the bench with the team.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Those involved are sent-off, easy part. Hard part is determining if the folks sent-off were players at the end of the previous period, if so they are not replaced. Let there be no doubt if they were players at the end of the period they are not to be replaced. The coach will say he has already replaced then with substitutes, or he can try saying this. Remember referee, you allow the substitute to enter at the end of the interval and if you have not given that permission the player he is replacing remains a player of record.

Again, youth players don't go away, they leave the technical area and their behavior is supervised by a responsible adult [should there be one present].

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The player from team A is sent off and shown the red card. Doesn't matter whether or not the player is on the field or not. The problem is, was he a player at the end of the half and still a player? If so, the team plays short. Obviously, if a player punches an opponent after the game is over, they don't play short as play has stopped. Still, the red card is shown. If a player punches a TEAMMATE, he has committed no foul as fouls are against opponents. he has committed misconduct and is sent off and shown the red card for Violent Conduct.