Question Number: 17592

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 10/30/2007

RE: ClubCompetive Under 12

Donna Bartyczak of irvine, ca usa asks...

When stopping play for an alleged injury, doesn't the ref have to remove the injured player from the field? And when restarting the play with a dropped ball, doesn't the ref have to make sure that he has at least two players, one from each team alert and ready to play when the ball is dropped? Or at least make some sort of motion/whistle that play is about to be restarted? And the ball should be dropped where it last was when play was stopped? Is there ever a time when a ref would roll the ball to any one player to restart a game when play was stopped for an injury?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Interesting question in that few referees really know the answer to the first part. In Law 5, bullet 8 of the Duties and Powers of the Referee there is this tidbit: stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that he is removed from the field of play. [USA referees q.v. ATR 5.9]

The casual reader will note there is no mention of the entry of a coach, physio or team's Doctor here, just if the referee stops for the injury the player is removed.

Law 8 is very specific in how play is restarted after being stopped for something that does not have a restart of play mentioned. It says the ball will be dropped at the point it was when play stopped subject to this condition, if in the goal area the point it drops is on the long line of the goal area nearest where it was when play stopped. Law 8 doesn't state there are any players nearby or that a signal be given before being dropped. In Advice to Referees [ATR] US Soccer licensed referees are directed to drop the ball in a specific way. q.v. ATR 8.5.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Donna, the referee uses the Laws of the Game to call a game, and hopefully through her skillful use of the Laws and the spirit in which they were made, enables the players to be able to demonstrate their skill, enjoy playing and be safe. The Laws don't cover everything, and when they don't the referee is left with interpretations from the international and national bodies, along with common sense and tradition, with which to make these important decisions. How we deal with injured players depends on the severity of the injury, the reason for the stoppage in play, whether or not the coach/medical folk enter the field and whether or not it is the goalkeeper, among other things. Dropped balls should be dropped, not rolled, and the referee can do what is fair under the circumstances because the Law doesn't dictate who can, must or shouldn't be present. This ability to orchestrate the use of the Laws to call a great and fair game is what confounds fans from sports used to a civil law form of government where every misdeed is detailed and catalogued. Yet, by contrast with American gridiron football, basketball and baseball, the Laws of the Game in soccer resemble nothing more than our own cherished American Constitution and our common law form of governance because like the Constitution, the Laws of the Game are few in number and broad in application. And therein lies the beauty of the game.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If we stop play solely for a suspected injury the official FIFA restart is a drop ball.
If play has not otherwise been stopped for another reason, or if an
injury suffered by a player is not the result of a breach of the Laws
of the Game, the referee shall restart play with a dropped ball.

Indfk in USA high school for the team that had ball possession!

Possibly an INDFK with a caution for USB under FIFA if there is no injury but we realize the player has deliberately deceived us .

Your question does the player have to leave?

YES if a referee feels the player requires treatment he will call on those who can better assess his needs trainers doctors etc and have transported him off the player must not be treated on the pitch and must in fact go or face being cautioned for USB if he fails to heed the request.
? As soon as the referee has authorized the doctors to enter the field
of play, the player *must* leave the field of play, either on a stretcher or on foot. If a player does not comply, he shall be cautioned for unsporting behavior

Does he have to go if (a) he is a bit winded needs no treatment and no coach, trainer or doctor is called onto the field? In my opinion no if the referee is satisfied that the only issue is he was over protective it is more an inadvertent whistle and the injury was not serious. I assume this based on the fact it says "After questioning the injured player, the referee *MAY* authorize one, or at most two doctors, and secondly ? The referee shall ensure an *injured player* is safely removed from the field of play. If the referee determines the player is not injured and has not deceived him then it is safe to proceed

Does he have to go if (b) we believe he deceived us and we caution his sorry butt? NO he can stay but we award an INDFK against him and caution as prescribed in law.

Mind you if we think he was not so injured but are unsure we insist he go off the field to be treated to cool the jets and allow his return when we decide he can be permitted to do so.
Decision 5
Any simulating action anywhere on the field, which is intended to
deceive the referee, must be sanctioned as unsporting behavior.

LAW 5 The Referee
Decision 1
A referee is not held liable for:
any kind of injury suffered by a player, offi cial or spectator any damage to property of any kind any other loss suffered by any individual, club, company, association or other body, which is due or which may be due to any decision that he may take under the terms of the Laws of the Game or in respect of the normal procedures required to hold, play and control a match.
This may include:
? a decision to request or insist that an injured player be removed
from the field of play for treatment

ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS AND GUIDELINES FOR THE REFEREE
Injured players
The referee shall adhere to the following procedure when dealing with injured players:
? Play is allowed to continue until the ball is out of play if a player
is, in the opinion of the referee, only slightly injured
? Play is stopped if, in the opinion of the referee, a player is seriously
injured
? After questioning the injured player, the referee may authorize
one, or at most two doctors, to enter the field of play to assess
the injury and arrange the player?s safe and swift removal from the
field of play
? The stretcher-bearers should enter the field of play with a stretcher at the same time as the doctors to allow the player to be removed as quickly as possible
? The referee shall ensure an injured player is safely removed from
the field of play
? A player is not allowed to receive treatment on the field of play
? Any player bleeding from a wound must leave the field of play. He
may not return until the referee is satisfied that the bleeding has
stopped. A player is not permitted to wear clothing with blood on it
? As soon as the referee has authorized the doctors to enter the fi eld
of play, the player must leave the field of play, either on a stretcher
or on foot. If a player does not comply, he shall be cautioned for
unsporting behavior
? An injured player may only return to the field of play after the
match has restarted
? When the ball is in play, an injured player must re-enter the field of play from the touch line. When the ball is out of play, the injured
player may re-enter from any of the boundary lines
? Irrespective of whether the ball is in play or not, only the referee is
authorized to allow an injured player to re-enter the field of play
? The referee may give permission for an injured player to return to
the field of play if an assistant referee or the fourth official verifies
that the player is ready
? If play has not otherwise been stopped for another reason, or if an
injury suffered by a player is not the result of a breach of the Laws
of the Game, the referee shall restart play with a dropped ball
? The referee shall allow for the full amount of time lost through
injury to be played at the end of each period of play
? Once the referee has decided to issue a card to a player who is
injured and has to leave the field of play for treatment, the referee
shall issue the card before the player leaves the field of play

Exceptions to this ruling are to be made only when:
? a goalkeeper is injured
? a goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided and need immediate attention
? a severe injury has occurred, e.g. swallowed tongue, concussion,
broken leg.

LAW 8 ? THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY
Dropped Ball
Any player may challenge for the ball (including the goalkeeper). There is no minimum or maximum number of players required to contest a dropped ball. The referee cannot decide who may or may not contest a dropped ball
The Start And Restart of Play
A dropped ball is a way of restarting the match after a temporary stoppage that becomes necessary, while the ball is in play, for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the Laws of the Game.Law 8 ?
Procedure
The referee drops (NO ROLL) the ball at the place where it was located when play was stopped.
Special Circumstances
A dropped ball to restart the match after play has been temporarily stopped inside the goal area takes place on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located when play was stopped.
Play restarts when the ball touches the ground

I see no need for a whistle except perhaps to get their attention.
As there is no limit or designated number permitted a referee could drop to one player , no players or 22 players.
FAIR PLAY within the spirit of the laws could have one team request they receive the ball and offer to give it back to their opponents uncontested. This is acceptable provided the team does as they say. . They are under no obligation to return the ball unless they have indicated they WILL do so. They just cannot deceive the referee by indicating they will and then choose not to. A referee is then compromised as to his neutrality.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The referee will stop play only if she determines the injury is serious. Once that determination has been made, the medic is waved onto the field to care for the player. Because of this, the player must go off the field until after the game has been restarted.

If the ref felt the injury was not serious, she would have let the game continue. Perhaps at the next stoppage, the player is still down. At that point, she goes to the player and determines if the medic is needed. If so, the player must go off the field, the same as if play was stopped because of the injury.

If play was not stopped and the injury is not serious, the player may stay on the field. The referee would see a player down, and go ask if she needed help. If the player merely needs to catch her breath and collect her wits before resuming play, that is allowed.

Because every team must have a goalkeeper and getting a new goalkeeper kitted up to replace an injured player would take some time, an injured goalkeeper can be treated on the field if it appears that he would be able to resume the game within a short while. If the goalkeeper was injured in a collision with another player and is being treated on the field, that courtesy is extended to the other player as well.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee only stops play for "serious" injuries. What is deemed serious differs with age group and skill level. A 9 year old child that is crying after being kicked in the face with the ball is serious by most of us. Play is not stopped for injuries not deemed serious. If play is stopped solely for an injury, that player must be treated off the field after team personnel assist him off unless it's the goelkeeper. If play is stopped for a foul but an injury also occurs, if team personnel are called onto the field, that player likewise must leave the field of play. If play was stopped solely for injury, the restart is a dropped ball at the spot the ball was when play was stopped. The Laws don't requier anyone to participate at a dropped ball much less a plaayer from each team. In the interest of fair play you may see a referee drop the ball to one team or to no one. In no case should the ball be rolled or thrown. It must be dropped.