Question Number: 16405

Law 4 - Players Equipment 8/23/2007

RE: Competitive Adult

Linda of London, Canada asks...

When one team has only enough players to field a team of only 8 players, the game can be played. When this same side has 2 players in succession leave the field of play due to injuy, what is the proper decision of the referee insofar as continuation of play?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the referee believes that one of the injured players will be able to return to play in a reasonable amount of time, play is suspended until the player is fixed up. (It used to be that the game went on.)

If the referee thinks that the side will be permanently limited to 6 players, the game is abandoned.

In the Additional Instructions section of the Laws of the Game (2007) we find:
"However, if a team has fewer than seven players because one or more players has deliberately left the field of play, the referee is not obliged to stop the match and the advantage may be played. In such cases, the referee should not allow the match to resume after the ball has gone out of play if a team does not have the minimum number of 7 players."

Note: If the game has been drawn (tied) and goes to Kicks From The Penalty Mark, the minimum number of players needed becomes 1 per side, not 7.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee wiats a reasonable amount of time and if neither can continue the game is abandoned

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

When a referee is faced with a player leaving for treatment this is usually at a stoppage in play. It is, therefore, assumed if this player leaving reduces the number of effective players to less than seven the referee is to wait a reasonable time to determine if the player can return. It he cannot the match is abandoned. The 2007/8 Laws of the Game address players leaving without permission to place their numbers below the required number to continue. It is the policy of the International Governing Body that the referee should allow play to continue should it be to the advantage of the team not cheating to do so. When there is a natural stoppage in play the referee will deal with the players who left the field of play.

Regards,