Question Number: 28409

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 5/9/2014

RE: competitive Under 19

Mark Patton of Coeur d Alene, ID United States asks...

Is the team NOT taking the kick-off required to be on the field to start (restart) the match?

If it is past the scheduled time to begin the match, and the referee has beckoned the teams onto the field; can he whistle for the match to begin if the non-kicking team has not taken the field?

Can the coach be warned, or players cautioned for delaying the restart in this situation?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
A game cannot begin without two teams of a minimum of seven players on each on the field of play. If one team is not on the field of play then play should not be started / restarted. Players cannot be cautioned here but the referee can 'encourage' the players to get ready to play. If one or both teams has seven players on the field of play, one of which must be a goalkeeper, then the referee can start / restart the game. Player/s joining the game must wait for the referee's permission to enter the field of play.
On a late start the matter is reported to the competition authority who will probably fine the team for this action.
I have read about referees starting games with only one team on the field of play. The referees in question were probably annoyed about the tardy attitude of the team not being ready to play. As much as the referee might seem it is 'acceptable' to do this the game involves two teams as stated above. Allow the competition organisers to deal with the late start / restart.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee should not whistle for a kickoff unless all players are one the field and in their own half. If a team refuses to play, the referee should abandon the match, and note what happened in the match report.

What to do if the team is delaying return to play (which sometimes happens with youth teams at half time). The wise referee will walk up to the coach and indicate that it is time to begin the half. Simply standing in the center circle and barking orders or blowing the whistle, IMO, is rarely productive. While a player could be cautioned for delaying the restart of play, a card is rarely needed.

It can be helpful for the referee to indicate how long half time will be (particularly in tournaments) at the end of the first half.