Question Number: 16471

Law 3 - Number of Players 8/28/2007

RE: Competitive Under 10

Dave Trepex of Portland, OR USA asks...

I was reffing a U10 game during a tournament. Team A had been dominating the game and has a 3 to 1 lead. The ball goes out and it's a throw in for Team A. Coach for Team B asks for a sub. The teams had just subbed a couple minutes ago and there is only one minute left in the game. I tell the coach there is only one minute left and tell player A to go ahead and take the throw. Team A scores again in the last minute. Coach B yells at me that I cost him a goal because I denied his request for a sub, that player was tired, yada yada. He asks me twice whether that is a rule that you can't sub in the last minute. I told him I can deny a substitution if it's delaying the game. Now I suppose I could have allowed the sub and added on time. But given that this was a tournament game, there is not much extra time between games. Did I make a fair call? Should I have cautioned the coach? If I caution him, what exactly do I say?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Dave,
Was it fair? Hmmm that depends!
There is no law that prohibits a **PROPER**substitution in the last minute even the last few seconds.
FIFA states at any stoppage!
In youth matches law 3 is adjusted because of the *unlimited substitution opportunities that exist. I can not say what by-laws or adjustments are made within your league! Often only on a team's possession or some other restrictions could apply.
You did say it was the other team's throw in correct?
I will tell you this if the substitution opportunity is legitimate you have no right to not allow it just because the end of the match is near!!

You can FOLLOW procedure and ensure it is done *correctly* and quickly. I understand tournaments are often on a tight schedule but a bit of time added can usually be finagled somehow.

Remember it is NOT the substitution itself that is WRONG or guilty of delaying the match it is the manner in which it is done. Player runs off, sub runs on, hardly crimp the time! I will restate the most obvious aspect of a substitution, ensure it follows procedure through the whole match and this drama at the end can be avoided!

If there was no by-law prohibiting the sub and the throw in was not already in the process of a quick restart and the sub WAS already at centre before the actual stoppage then why not allow the substitution? As a coach myself, the rational of a tired hurt player could be true and perhaps in a tournament 3-1 keeps them in the hunt where 4-1 puts them out?

That said if you make the call, the coach can disagree but he can not berate and dissent you! Now assuming you play with FIFA law the coach is not cautioned, you warn him and write him up in the match report but you show no cards per say. If the conduct of the coach goes too far into the abuse category then you could demand his removal from field and again include that in the match report. Sometimes we can allow them to let a bit of steam off and go with selective hearing but each referee his match, his decision, his reputation!
Ok I see you added this in your next question after I already answered so let me finish up!
"Oh, I forgot to add this most important bit: Tournament rules stated "Free substitution will be allowed...any time the ball is out of play... A ref may deny a sub request if the ref considers it to be an intentional plan to disrupt the play, or an attempt to run off an excessive amount of time."
Now that you thought about it. Was it really a ploy or simply a request to sub?? Admittedly I dislike this discrestionary power as following proceedure and a be quick about it attitude makes this redundant!
Cheers