Question Number: 15772

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 6/13/2007

RE: U-19

kutlu seymen of philadelphia, USA asks...

The referee gave a player from team A permission to leave the field of play to tend to a minor injury. While the player was off the field, an opponent from team B started a breakaway with the ball toward team A's goal with only the goalkeeper between him and the goal. The injured player saw what was happening and raced back onto the field without the referee's permission to intercept the player from team B. He dispossessed the player from team B of the ball by a clean, legal tackle and ended the goal scoring threat.

What is your decision?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The player that came on the field is cautioned and shown the yellow card. He is told to leave the field and wait for permission to enter. The restart is an IFK at the spot of the ball when the referee stopped play to issue the caution.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The only thing this player has done wrong is return to the field without permission. When he is identified as a player on the park, He is asked to leave and seek permission to enter. It is same in the case of a substitute entering early or entering without permission; the substitute must leave the field to ensure the substitution procedure is completed.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I've been trying to come up with a way we could send this player off. It sounds like an egregious offense - he enters without permission and then takes advantage of his illegal entry to stop the attack - it just seems so wrong. But can't come up with a valid reason. I'd like Denying an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity to apply, but it would really be stretching the required parameters for it. The player's offense happened at the edge of the field, as he entered without permission. The distance requirements for DOGSO wouldn't apply at the time of his offense.

If he had fouled his opponent it could be another story. That foul could be seen as USB for breaking up the attacking play, and would be a second caution.

While cautioning him for his illegal entry, I would express my extreme displeasure with his behavior. He would be told in no uncertain terms that if he so much as sneezed in the wrong direction I would be talking with him again and he wouldn't like the results of that discussion.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Great question asked!

Like ref Voshol I feel that this should be a sending off offense, however I cannot seem to justify this based on the laws of the game. So, as my colleagues have stated this player must be cautioned for entering the field of play without the referees permission and shown the yellow card. Had the player fouled the opponent, I would probably issue him a second caution and then show him the yellow card for unsporting behavior followed by a red card for receiving a second caution in the same match.

As it was stated above if this player remains in the match he should be read the riot act.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I find it interesting that if a substitute were to come onto the field illegally and kick the ball away the USSF position finds a way to send him off for two cautions but we grant absolution to a player? Both are NOT supposed to be there and they do the exact samething?
I thought in principle we should treat misconduct the same. The USB of coming into the field when they are not allowed to and the USB of further affecting play by kicking the ball and delaying the match! Just because a player can be on the field if he is off and must wait to be allowed on he is no different than the substitute as to WHAT he did!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Jon [Withheld]

Can we really caution someone twice at the same time for pretty much the same act in law? Love to think we could caution for entering field of play without permission and then caution again and therefore dismiss for USB. If a sub did this it is just USB. hard one. its your call, your game, your rep at end of the day. what would i do? Caution for entering field of play. Give him a long hard talking to and then I would be looking. Any chance he gave me, I would caution him for persistent infringement, show second yellow followed by much enjoyed rouge!!