Question Number: 17931

Law 3 - Number of Players 11/16/2007

RE: Adult

Fernando of Las Palmas, Las Palmas Spain asks...

A team, give us 12 licenses...and say...

"We play with 9 titular players and 3 subtitutes..."

Can a team play with 9 player if there are subtitutes??

notes:
Can a team start the game with 9 titular player and 3 subtitues?
(they no waiting for 2 more players to arrive....they want play with 9 players)

..or...

team have to start game with 11 + 1 subtitute because team cant have substitutes if have less 11 players??

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A team can play with 9, but there are still 11 players. Two of them are simply off the field with the permission of the referee. You can change which two are on and which are off at any stoppage, with the permission of the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I would say in the league's by-laws should be the answer to this question. Law 3 allows a maximum of 11 players one of whom shall be the goalkeeper. The rules of the competition must state the maximum number of substitutes a squad may nominate. That being from 3 to 7. The number of players is not one of the three things allowed to be changed by the various national associations but the number of substitutes is permitted to be modified.

If it were my squad and I felt confident in the abilities of the 9 on time players and wished to await the arrival of the other two named players I would hope the league would see fit to allow this. I would also understand if these two players did not arrive, bringing my side up to the maximum allowed number of players would necessitate the use of two substitutes. That may not be possible with 12 licensed squad members...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

I would check the local league policies on this. In FIFA governed matches a team can play with less than 11 players and then the late arriving player can step out on the field when they arrive privided they have the referees permission. If the coach wants to designate 9 as players and 2 as subs, this is fine. Also the late arriving players need to be on the original roster.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 21842