Late arrivals

[Refollie]

If a team starts with fewer than 11 players, does a late arrival named on the teamsheet need to wait for a stoppage in play to enter the field of play? Or can they enter during play, provided they have the permission of the referee?

I’d have thought they need to wait for a stoppage as technically they haven’t had their kit inspected, but I can’t see anything in the good book on this (I might be missing something).

 

[ChasObserverRefDeveloper]

They have to wait for a stoppage, during which a kit inspection is essential.

 

[RefereeX]

Interesting question though. If this (somehow) happened on a step 2 game with a 4th official who can conduct a kit inspection would they still need to wait for a stoppage in play? Or just a suitable point during play as agreed with the referee?

 

[Refollie]

I suppose there could also be the weird instance that they HAVE had their kit inspected before kick off but then ran off to take a phone call/use the toilet before kick off etc and missed the start…?

 

[Samuel]

Or they could have another Jason Puncheon situation where I believe they waited for a stoppage in play for him to return to the pitch, understand that this is slightly different circumstances though.

 

[joeref]

From the FIFA LOTG App Q&A: Though the Law 3 reference doesn't speak specifically to this.

 

[RustyRef]

Let's complicate this a bit further

A team starts with 10 but have named 12 on the team sheet. The 11th player to arrive is named as a substitute rather than in the starting 11, can he come on?

 

[joeref]

My, you do like to stir the pot!

If we don't "KISS" the Laws, we'll all go crazy (keep it simple...) Maybe even that hasn't helped us.

Ken Aston's Law 18 would have us accept an arriving "sub" as a player, relegating the yet later-arriving "player" to the bench.

That is unless a coach wants to substitute the player-now-substitute for the substitute-now-player (We're getting a mite emoticon-happy, I think...)

In games I center, I want a written roster (fortunately, now a requirement wherever I ref) and coaches know that nobody enters the field w/o notice/permission, even a player/sub who shows up during halftime.

LOTG 3.1 - "If the competition rules state that all players and substitutes must be named before kick-off and a team starts a match with fewer than eleven players, only the players and substitutes named on the team list may take part in the match upon their arrival."