Question Number: 12223

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 2/19/2006

RE: competive Adult

john of Buffalo, Ny usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 10241

What happens if a goal is score and you find out the other team had too many players on the field?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee locates the extra player, cautions him for entering without permission, shows him the yellow card and removes him from the field of play. The restart of play is a kick-off to the team loosing the valid goal.

FIFA's Q&A 2005 makes this point regarding your question:

From Law 3, 17. A substitute who has joined the game without the permission of the referee scores a goal. The referee realises this before restarting play.

What action will the referee take?

The goal is not awarded. The player will be cautioned and instructed
to leave the field of play for the substitution procedure to be completed correctly. The match is restarted with an indirect free kick to the opposing team in the goal area *.

17.1. What action will the referee take if the opposing team scores the goal?

The goal will be awarded. The offending player is cautioned for entering the field of play without the referee?s permission and is instructed to leave the field of play for the substitution to be completed correctly. The match will be restarted with a kick-off.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

First, it's a goal. If the attacking team had too many players, no goal. Second, you locate the extra player, caution him and show the yellow card. If you can't easily decide whom the extra player is, ask that teams captain for assistance.