Question Number: 16900

Law 5 - The Referee 9/25/2007

RE: Rec Under 19

locksley philips of valhalla, new york usa asks...

On a shot on goal the keep gains possession but in the process injuries himself. He remains in possession of the ball inside the goal area but writhes in pain on the ground. The ref stops the match to allow the trainer to attend to him. What is the correct restart and why?

If the goalkeeper and a forward from the opposing team collide within the goal area and both go down, unable to get up due to injury. When the ref stops the game, is the restart different from the previous situation?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

The correct restart is a dropped ball from the location of the ball when the referee stopped play. If that happened to occur within the goal area then the ball is moved directly from that point to the top of the goal area (aka "the 6") where the drop ball is conducted. This is because the referee has stopped play for a reason not otherwise mentioned in the laws of the game.

It would depend in situation 2 on whether or not the referee feels a foul was committed. If he does, then the restart is commensurate with the foul that was given. If he does not think there was a foul, then a dropped ball is the right way to go.

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Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The answers to both these [test] questions are found in the Additional Instructions and Guidance portion of the Laws of the Game, Law 5, page 71. Note the US Soccer version of the 2007/8 Laws does not contain this information, you must download the Laws from FIFA.com.

Regards,

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Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The wise referee will manage to find a way to drop the ball so that it ends up in the keeper's hands again.

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Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the referee stops play for an injury, the restart is always a dropped ball. In your first example I'd simply quickly drop the ball to the keeper or his replacement. In your second example you don't say where the ball is or if the keeper has possession. Regardless, the drop should take place where the ball was when play is restarted.

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