Question Number: 17166

Law 5 - The Referee 10/7/2007

RE: Rec Under 11

Mike of New Hyde Park, NY US asks...

May a referee require a coach to substitute a player during a match upon a foul? Does this qualify as "takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offences" from Law 5 or is this overstepping the ref's authority? This was an unlmiited substitution tournament, but no modification to FIFA as to Ref's authority.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

No, a referee may not require a coach to substitute a player after a foul/offense (short answer). Law 5 doesn't give the ref that authority, and that is specifically spelled out in the Advice to Referees, in a position paper from USSF and in other authoritative soccer documents. Your referee probably still thinks he's doing high school and forgot you don't have to sub them out in HS unless it is a caution. BUT in USSF games or AYSO games, the referee has no authority to make a coach take a player out, caution or offense of any kind. We might suggest it would be a good idea because we can see the player needs to cool down or they might get a caution or a sendoff, but we cannot make the coach do it. (long answer)

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee has NO authority to demand any player be taken out of a game unless that player has been injured or he is sending the player off and giving a red card. The referee certainly may suggest a cooling off period would be good but he may not insist upon it