Substitute - the-ref.co.uk: The forum for football referees

Coops · February 21st, 2010, 05:53 PM

Can someone please clarify something that happened in a match yesterday. I was AR on a supply league game and I was on the dugout side. Two plyers clashed in midfield the referee invited both physios on to the FOP. Both players were treated and during the treatment one team decided they wanted to sub. The two treated players were sent off FOP after receiving treatment and the sub was replacing one of the injured players. The referee restarted play and waved both players on to FOP although the sub was still on the halfway line, he started to run on, i held him back and said until play stops not to go on. The referee then waved the sub on!

I was under the impression a sub could not be made when ball was in play. The refs explanation after the match was that he couldnt allow the sub on before the injured player from the other team had come on as they would have an advantage so he allowed the sub on at the same time???

AndyForrest · February 21st, 2010, 06:10 PM

Tricky one, but I think the ref was right in his management of the game.
When teams feel that something is unfair, or that something has happened
that appears unfair, it can get ugly.
Maybe this wasn`t to the `letter of the law`,but i feel this is good management of a game.

idds · March 10th, 2010, 08:49 AM

Well the referee "in management" was right however the sub couldor should of taken place while the players were being treated and the game was stopped. This is a prime example of losing or forgetting while there is a stoppage in play. It is easily done as the referee is trying to remember the start of play, the injuries in question and the players leaving the FOP etc. These things can sometimes be too much for a referee to keep in his head.

I am almost 100% confident that if he was being assessed that this would reflect on his assessment

Leggy · March 10th, 2010, 05:38 PM

If the substitution has been correctly executed the referee cannot prevent the sub from entering the field of play. Yes, its unfair, but hopefully the disparity in numbers will be only for a few seconds.

It is not our fault. The whole player injury pantomime is down toplayers who fake or exaggerate injuries, but don't start me on that one!