Question Number: 15586

Law 3 - Number of Players 5/24/2007

Bill Sayre of Greenwood, SC USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15536

Regarding improper substitution (#15536) - when you book the substitute and they leave the field, could they immediately (properly) sub? For example, play is stopped. A team that has a legal substitution opportunity is found to have 12 people on the field. After the booking, that person wishes to sub properly for a player OTFOP. There's no reason, other than a perturbed CR that may choose to be suddenly blind towards that part of the field ;), that the substitution cannot now be done, correct?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Actually no because the substitute was not at the halfway line before the restart. He would have to wait until the next opportunity.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I disagree with my colleague. The referee would allow this substitution to take place because he knows they wished to substitute, he did cautioned a substitute for not doing it correctly. It is a stoppage in play. All that need be done now is for the player the substitute is replacing leaves the field of play. Then the substitute makes his way to the halfway line and, upon receiving permission from the referee, he may enter.

In the league has substitution rules that are more restrictive than any stoppage the referee must abide by them.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I say yes they can. He has to leave the field but then may come back on provided someone ELSE leaves prior to his return