Question Number: 15994

Law 5 - The Referee 7/11/2007

RE: Competitive Adult

Ryan of Flower Mound, TX U.S.A. asks...

Dear Referee Panel,

I have some questions about dealing with injuries. In Law 5 it says

Exceptions to this ruling are to be made only when:
a goalkeeper is injured
a goalkeeper and outfield player have collidied and need immediate medical attention
a severe injury has occurred, e.g. swallowed tongue, concussion, broken leg.

To what extent is it proper to make exceptions? I assume allowing extra medical personnel on the pitch and giving them plenty of time to check on the injured players is what is ment by this exception phrase. If the keeper is checked on does he still have to leave the field or can we make an exception here? Does an injured outfielder have to leave the field as well? Usually, we let the keeper stay if they can continue to play but I would like to know if that is the proper mechanic. The outfielder has to go to the touchline. If the outfielder can continue he must get the referee's permission after the ball is in play.

In dealing with bleeding what should be done if blood gets on the ball, goal uprights, or corner flags? Is there some standard of sanitization that we have to do?

Thanks again for your advice.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

This is another case of poor writing from IFAB. They give a long list of instructions for injuries, and then say, "Except for when the keeper is injured." Just what is supposed to be exempted?

What they meant was that the keeper could be treated on the field. This is a logical concession to the special position keepers hold on the team. If the keeper had to go off the field, the team would either have to use a sub to bring in their backup keeper, or have one of the other players on the field suit up as keeper. If both the keeper and another player have collided, they extend the exemption to the other player, a 1-for-1 basis so to speak. If it is just a non-keeper that is injured and play is stopped for it, he must leave the field and cannot reenter until the game has been restarted.

I have no idea what the exemption for swallowed tongue, concussion, broken leg, etc. is about - except maybe that they are saying where moving a player could be dangerous, they don't have to immediately be carted off.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ryan,
judgement calls are always a bit suspect if there is not an APPARANT problem easily identified.
It is in the laws the team must have a keeper!
You cannot continue a match without one.

You can continue short handed with a player though, that is why the exemption is ONLY with keeper injuries!

If a player is injured at the same time as the keeper we are not restarting until the keeper is able to go or a substitute keeper has taken his place. The injured player is not forced to leave the field as he would be in all other circumstances, provided he recovers before the keeper. So both the keeper and player could recieve treatment on the field and neither be forced to leave, as the game can not continue!

If blood splatter is present you can try to get it cleaned or remove the item and replace. You allow the keeper to recover unless it is OBVIOUS he must be replaced. You do not force him to leave if it is a treatable injury only if he cannot continue must he leave!
Cheers