Question Number: 19202

Law 3 - Number of Players 5/26/2008

RE: 1 Professional

Gugulethu Magagula of JOHANESBURG, Gauteng south africa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 16570

Am not clear here. Are we suggesting that a team can change an in player into a goalkeeper and the then keeper into an in player? How would this then have an effect on the number of substitutions in the match. Is it not that the Keeper must be pulled out then the in player goes into goals then a new player can be introduced from the bench? How does this work and what is the law number on this?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

A keeper is one of 11 players on the field ANY of those other ten players can switch with the keeper to take his place and the keeper becomes one of the other ten players.

The referee must be informed and this could occur at a stoppage. THIS is NOT a substitution only an exchange of positions as the laws state LAW 3 the number of players
A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than eleven players, one of whom is the goalkeeper.

At elite levels the keeper is a much defined position and technically few outfield players are as good as the substitute keepers waiting on the touchlines. You need to remember many questions deal with grassroots issues more than elite level play.

If a keeper is injured a substitute keeper may come in to replace him as a SUBSTITUTE and count as one of the limited substitutes so provided in law.

In youth often unlimited subs are in place and often the better athletes are good at any number of positions.

If all the limited subs are used and the keeper playing is hurt or sent off then an outfield player on the pitch must take over in goal. Only in the case of an injured keeper and ONLY if all substitution opportunities are NOT used can a SUBSTITUTION be made after regulation play has ended.
Cheers,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

There is a difference between a substitution and an exchange. A substitution is where a player exits the field and is replaced by a new player and an exchange is where positions among players on the field changes. If the left back changed places with a striker, is that illegal? No, of course not, and in that instance, no notification of the referee is required. Since a goalkeeper is a specialized position with specific restrictions and privileges, a change there requires the notification of the referee (not permission, just notification). Failure to do so results in a caution for both players, the new and the old keeper, at the next stoppage. So, a substitution counts against whatever number of subs is allowed in the competition or league but an exchange does not. All of this is covered in Law 3 and in the FIFA interpretations of the Law.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Law 3 affords this right:

Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper, provided that:

the referee is informed before the change is made

the change is made during a stoppage in the match

Note: this is a right! The referee may not refuse when a player says "I will change places with the goalkeeper now, sir". The referee will just add time to the match to ensure the players have their full measure of time.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

This is not a substitution. A substitution is when a substitute (from the bench) exchanges with a player (on field). This is just changing goal keepers which is permitted provided the referee is informed before the change.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Gugulethu, there are three types of personnel who are involved in playing the game of soccer: players, substitutes and substituted players. The first group goes on the field of play and start playing, minimum 7 and maximum 11. Amongst these ?players? one of them dresses funny and he is called a goalie. He remains to be a player until he is substituted. At any time, with the referee?s permission, the players can take their turns dressing funny. This process is not a substitution. For your information, when taking shots from the penalty mark to decide the outcome of the game, there could be a different goalie on every shot.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You are confusing this with a substitution which it is not. A keeper change with an onfield player may be made at ANY stoppage per the LOTG. Since there is no substitution, it doesn't affect the number of subs left. The onfield player simply puts on the keeper jersey and the change is made. This is found in Law3. You will note that it says "players" not "substitutes".


Changing the Goalkeeper
Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper,
provided that:
? the referee is informed before the change is made
? the change is made during a stoppage in the match

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

See Question: 19230