Question Number: 28323

Law 5 - The Referee 4/10/2014

RE: semi pro Other

Dean Hills of SWANSEA, Select United Kingdom asks...

A player goes down with cramp when ball goes out of play for throw in. Does the player have to leave the field of play on restart. He has not been seen by any of the coaching staff or physio.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dean
Players are not allowed to receive treatment on the field of play. The physio is only allowed to assess the injury. Treatment should take place off the FOP.The only requirement for a player to leave the field of play on an injury is when he needs to receive treatment or he is bleeding from a wound. A player suffering from cramp does not have to leave unless he seeks treatment from the medical staff.
Receiving assistance from a team mate or an opponent such as a leg stretch does not constitute treatment and as such he does not have to leave.
Now there can be times when the player in on the ground interfering with a restart such as at a throw in, where play is likely to go. In those cases the referee would be entitled to ask the player to leave the field of play so that play can restart without a risk to the player.
It can also be an issue at the end of the game in timewasting. A player if he is near the touchline can as easily ask the referee for permission to leave so as to allow play to continue. Many players just lie down and then hold up the game. The referee here is entitled to ask the player to leave

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The player must leave the field if: (a) the referee has stopped play because of the injury; or (b) the referee has beckoned on the trainers/coaches to evaluate the player. (There are a few exceptions - - keepers, keeper + player, 2 players on same team - - where the player (s) may be treated on the field and remain.)

In your situation, neither has happened. So, the player does not need to leave the field.