Question Number: 35971

Law 3 - The Players 7/21/2025

RE: Competitive Adult

Kumarasan Govender of TONGAAT, KZN South Africa asks...

WILL THE RULE AS APPLIED IN HOLSTEIN KIEL v Bochum still be applied in present day football?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
This was an unusual situation in that substitutes rarely warm up behind the goal area.

https://m.youtube.com/shorts/_t2MNblWKj4

Law 3 states and I quote
If a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player or outside agent enters the field of play, the referee must: only stop play if there is interference with play
# have the person removed when play stops
# take appropriate disciplinary action
If play is stopped and the interference was by:
a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player, play restarts with a direct free kick or penalty kick

So yes if this was to happen in a current game the outcome would be the same.
However as this was a VAR decision it is unlikely in grassroots soccer that the offence might be picked up as many would believe the ball was out of play when touched by a substitute

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Kumarasan Govender
the laws of the game have some very strict interpretations at the professional level. It is unfortunate there is such a dire result for something that might have been a concerned reaction or an impulse to assist. It is similar in golf when a ball lands near you and you reach to pick it up forgetting that ball is in play. It's not a good idea to warm up in behind the penalty area or near the touchlines or goal lines. As my colleague aptly pointed out, at the grassroots level you maybe less likely to notice but it is illegal for them to do so and there is designated punishment for doing it.
Cheers