Question Number: 16570

Law 14 - Penalty kick 9/6/2007

RE: BCSA Class 4 Under 16

Adam of Quesnel, Canada asks...

I was told that if a team tries to switch goalkeepers just before a penalty kick they'd get a red card? But I couldn't find it in my laws of the game?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

It is great that you tried to look this up. And if you didn't find it, you should be very skeptical of anything else from the person who told you this story, because you won't find a reason to give a red card for this situation anywhere in the Laws of the Game. Use your logical thinking, Adam and it should tell you why. A team can substitute on any stoppage, Law 3, and a penalty kick is a stoppage - Law 12 & 14. Or, they can certainly switch with a player already on the field during the stoppage, as long as they inform the referee before the change - Law 3. So what have they done wrong - especially so wrong it would warrant the most severe of punishments? Nothing. Don't go there - bad karma.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Adam, someone is having you on. If not the information he is giving you is absolutely wrong. Should the person be a referee show him this answer and sign him up for a recert class.

Law 3 affords a team the right to change the goalkeeper with an outfield player at any stoppage in play provided the referee is first notified. The referee may not refuse this. It is not a request it is notification of their intent to make the change.

Should substitutes remain [or if there are unlimited substitutions in the match] and a substitute goalkeeper has already come forward the referee may allow the change to take place at this stoppage in play. Note: if the league specifies stoppages where substitutions may be made and this is not one of those specified there can be no substitution.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You can't find it because it's nowhere to be found. A keeper change with a player on the field is allowed at ANY stoppage as long as the referee is notified. If a keeper change is made without the referee's knowledge play continues and BOTH players are cautioned and shown the YELLOW, never RED, card for this infraction.

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