1. A player accidentally passes over one of the boundary lines of the field of play. Is he considered to have left the field of play without the permission of the referee?

   
   No.

    

2. A player in possession of the ball passes over the touch line or the goal line without the ball in order to beat an opponent. What action does the referee take?

   
   Play continues. Going outside the field of play may be considered as part of a playing movement, but players are expected, as a general rule, to remain within the playing-area.

    

3. Is it permissible for a goalkeeper to take a throw-in, corner-kick, penalty-kick etc.?

   
   Yes. He is a player of his team.

    

4. May a player who has been sent off stay in the technical area?

   
   No. He must return to the dressing room.

    

5. A team with only seven players is penalised by the award of a penalty-kick and as a consequence one of their players is sent off, leaving only six in the team. Should the referee allow the penalty-kick to be taken or should he abandon the match before the kick is taken?

   
   The game must be abandoned without allowing the penalty-kick to be taken unless the national association has decided otherwise with regard to the minimum number of players.

   In the opinion of the International F.A. Board, a match should not be considered valid if there are fewer than seven players in either of the teams.

    

6. A substitute, who is not participating in the match, runs onto the field of play and kicks an opponent. What action does the referee take?

   
   The referee stops the match, sends off the substitute, shows him the red card and restarts the match by dropping the ball at the place where it was when play was stopped.*

    

7. A player, from a team with only seven players, leaves the field of play to receive medical attention. What action does the referee take?

   
   The match continues to allow the player to return after treatment but if he fails to return the match may be abandoned subject to the decision of the national association.

    

8. If, before the start of a match played under the rules of a competition, a player is replaced by a named substitute without the referee having been notified, may this substitute be permitted to continue to participate in the game?

   
   Yes, but the player has to be cautioned for entering the field of play without the permission of the referee.

    

9. When does a substitute become a player?

   
   Immediately after he enters the field of play in accordance with the substitution procedure.

    

10. The Board is of the opinion that a match cannot be considered as normal if one of the teams is playing with less than 7 players. In a competition where such a limitation applies, a team consisting of 11 players is playing against a team with only 7. When the team consisting of 11 players is about to take a shot at goal one of the players of the team of 7 deliberately leaves the field of play.

     

    1. Does the referee have to stop play immediately?

       
       No. The advantage clause should be considered.

        

    2. If a goal is scored must he allow it?

       
       Yes.

        

    3. What further action should the referee take?

       
       If the player who has left the field of play fails to return for the kick-off after the goal is scored, the match is abandoned and a report sent to the appropriate authority.

     

11. A player who is about to be replaced refuses to leave the field of play. What action does the referee take?

    
    He allows play to continue.

     

12. The referee allows a substitute who has not been nominated to enter the field of play and the latter scores a goal. What action does the referee take?

     

    1. If he realises his mistake during the match?

       
       He should require the player to leave the field of play, continue the match and report the situation to the appropriate authorities.

        

    2. If he only realises his mistake after the match?

       
       He should report the situation to the appropriate authorities.

     

13. A substitute enters the field of play without having obtained the permission of the referee. While the ball is in play, an opponent punches him. What action should the referee take?

    
    The referee stops play, sends off the player guilty of violent conduct, cautions the substitute for entering the field of play without the permission of the referee and restart the game by an indirect free-kick against the team of the substitute at the place where the infringement occurred.*

     

14. Player no. 8 is to be replaced by player no. 12. Player no. 8 leaves the field of play. Before entering the field of play player no. 12 strikes an opponent who is standing on the touch line. What action does the referee take?

    
    Substitute no. 12 is sent off for violent conduct and shown the red card. Player no. 8 may be replaced by another eligible substitute or may continue as a player since the substitution has not been completed.

     

15. A competition rule states that all players must be named before kick-off. A team lists only nine players and the match begins. May two other players who arrive after play has started take part?

    
    No.

     

16. The goalkeeper (no. 1) changes places with player no. 7 without notifying the referee, just before the end of the match. Both teams have already made their three eligible substitutions and player no. 7 has been cautioned. The ball is in play and the player no. 1 scores a goal for his team just as the normal time runs to an end. Immediately after the goal is scored, the referee blows the final whistle, without having been able to carry out the kick-off and without having been able to caution the offending players. What action does the referee take?

    
    As the referee was unable to administer the sanctions before the end of the match, he informs a team official about the misconduct of the two players and includes details in his report to the appropriate authorities.

     

17. A player changes places with the goalkeeper during half-time without informing the referee. The new goalkeeper then touches the ball with his hand during the second half. What action does the referee take?

    
    He allows play to continue and cautions both players for unsporting behaviour when the ball goes next out of play.

     

18. A player being substituted leaves the field of play and the referee signals to the substitute to enter the field. Before entering, however, he delivers a throw-in, ignoring the substitutions procedure stated in Law 3, regarding entering the field of play. Is this procedure permitted?

    
    No, the substitution procedure stated in Law 3 must first be completed.

     

19. If no substitutes have been named and a player is sent off before play has begun, may the team which is affected complete the side with a player who subsequently arrives?

    
    The team may be completed with this player provided this is allowed by the rules of the competition.

     

20. How many people may give tactical instructions from the technical area?

    
    Only one person at any one time may give instructions. He may move forward to give instructions but must then return to the designated seated area. He may stand beside this area if he wishes, but must behave at all.

DRC: Gord Arrowsmith, 95 Wetherburn Drive, Whitby, ON   L1P 1N5     drcdurham@rogers.com