When does an injured player have to leave the field?

[santa sangria]

The ball is in play, a player goes down injured and seems in distress, the referee stops the game to attend to the injured player, the player then says she does need the physio.

Can the player remain on the field or do they have to leave the field?

(Citations from IFAB or anywhere else appreciated)

 

[OnlyUseMeWhistle]

The ball is in play, a player goes down injured and seems in distress, the referee stops the game to attend to the injured player, the player then says she does need the physio.

Can the player remain on the field or do they have to leave the field?

(Citations from IFAB or anywhere else appreciated)

Any player who receives treatment must leave the field with the exception of the goalkeeper or if fouled by a challenge that results in a sanction

 

[santa sangria]

Any player who receives treatment must leave the field with the exception of the goalkeeper or if fouled by a challenge that results in a sanction

In the OP the player does not receive treatment.

 

[OnlyUseMeWhistle]

In the OP the player does not receive treatment.

If the physio comes in - for me that’s treatment and they have to go off. I’ve always been told that they need to leave the field ASAP to receive that treatment.

From IFAB

A player who is assessed and/or treated on the pitch must then leave the pitch, except when:

• the injured player is a goalkeeper
• a goalkeeper and an outfield player collide with each other and need attention
• players from the same team collide and need attention
• a player is injured by a foul for which the offender is shown a yellow or red card
• a penalty kick has been awarded and the injured player will take the kick

 

[Russell Jones]

The ball is in play, a player goes down injured and seems in distress, the referee stops the game to attend to the injured player, the player then says she does need the physio.

Can the player remain on the field or do they have to leave the field?

(Citations from IFAB or anywhere else appreciated)

If no treatment actually occurs and the physio does not enter, then officially the player can remain on the FOP.

However, my personal coaching to new and developing refs is that, if the injury appears so serious that you have to stop the game with the ball in play, then I'm a fan of simply calling on the trainer at that point, without even consulting the player. This is especially helpful if the player has gone down "in agony" after a non foul call by yourself, as it also avoids having to deal with the dissent likely to come in your direction if you approach the player

 

[ARF]

In the OP the player does not receive treatment.

The OP says the player wants the physio on, it doesn’t state whether treatment is received or not.

 

[ARF]

However, whether the player receives treatment is irrelevant:

if the referee has authorised the doctors and/or stretcher bearers to enter the field of play, the player must leave on a stretcher or on foot. A player who does not comply must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour

The moment the referee calls medical staff on, the player must leave (except for the circumstances stated otherwise in the LotG)

 

[Viridis1886]

A player who is assessed and/or treated on the pitch must then leave the pitch, except when:

• the injured player is a goalkeeper
• a goalkeeper and an outfield player collide with each other and need attention
• players from the same team collide and need attention
• a player is injured by a foul for which the offender is shown a yellow or red card
• a penalty kick has been awarded and the injured player will take the kick

I actually had a query about this the other day.

If two players from the same team are injured but not as a result of a collision and they both receive treatment, do they both need to leave the fop?

In this instance one was an injury from a challenge and the other was cramp. Both at the same time.

 

[ARF]

I actually had a query about this the other day.

If two players from the same team are injured but not as a result of a collision and they both receive treatment, do they both need to leave the fop?

In this instance one was an injury from a challenge and the other was cramp. Both at the same time.

Given that it says collide, I would say they both need to leave. I assume the exception requiring it to be a collision is to stop players pretending to need treatment if one of their teammates needs treatment, so that the teammate wouldn't need to leave the field.

 

[socal lurker]

Given that it says collide, I would say they both need to leave. I assume the exception requiring it to be a collision is to stop players pretending to need treatment if one of their teammates needs treatment, so that the teammate wouldn't need to leave the field.

I think you give IFAB credit for thinking bout alternate scenarios that history does not suggest they deserve . . . I think someone suggested a rule because they had felt hard done by her two players collided and both had to go out. But perhaps someone know the actual history of this one.

 

[one]

The ball is in play, a player goes down injured and seems in distress, the referee stops the game to attend to the injured player, the player then says she does need the physio.

Can the player remain on the field or do they have to leave the field?

(Citations from IFAB or anywhere else appreciated)

Citation Law 5.3

stops play if a player is seriously injured and ensures that the player is removed from the field of play. An injured player may not be treated on the field of play

and

if the referee has authorised the doctors and/or stretcher bearers to enter the field of play, the player must leave on a stretcher or on foot.

On the question's wording, strictly, the player can remain, because the referee has not authorised "the doctor" to enter the FOP (yet).

According the the wording of law5 once the referee has authorised the physio on, the player must leave the FOP regardless of if the physio enters the field. However in practice we ask them to leave only if the physio enters the field (and sometimes only if the player is attended to). And I'd say this what the law means. I am guessing question is pointing out this discrepancy in the wording of law.

 

[Kes]

stops play if a player is seriously injured and ensures that the player is removed from the field of play. An injured player may not be treated on the field of play

But of course as we all know, injuries are generally treated on the field - even at the top level.

 

[Peter Grove]

But of course as we all know, injuries are generally treated on the field - even at the top level.

The thing is though, if the the player's injury is serious, the physio or medic needs to do an assessment first, to see whether it's safe for the player to be moved. And the distinction between assessment and treatment can be a bit blurry.

So yes, players often do get treatment along with, or as part of the "assessment."

 

[Kes]

The thing is though, if the the player's injury is serious, the physio or medic needs to do an assessment first, to see whether it's safe for the player to be moved. And the distinction between assessment and treatment can be a bit blurry.

So yes, players often do get treatment along with, or as part of the "assessment."

Yes I know. The point I was trying to make is that having it written in the Laws ie An injured player may not be treated on the field of play is pointless because whether the injury is serious or not, players do still get "treatment" on the field at every level - even if it's just some cold spray or the magic sponge.

 

[ChasObserverRefDeveloper]

T

Yes I know. The point I was trying to make is that having it written in the Laws ie An injured player may not be treated on the field of play is pointless because whether the injury is serious or not, players do still get "treatment" on the field at every level - even if it's just some cold spray or the magic sponge.

There is a rider in Law 5 re not needing to leave the f. o. p. for treatment of a serious injury, but too frequently minor issues are sorted while 21 players wait.

 

[santa sangria]

If the physio comes in - for me that’s treatment and they have to go off. I’ve always been told that they need to leave the field ASAP to receive that treatment.

From IFAB

A player who is assessed and/or treated on the pitch must then leave the pitch, except when:

• the injured player is a goalkeeper
• a goalkeeper and an outfield player collide with each other and need attention
• players from the same team collide and need attention
• a player is injured by a foul for which the offender is shown a yellow or red card
• a penalty kick has been awarded and the injured player will take the kick

That’s not what the LotG says.

It says clearly:

stops play if a player is seriously injured and ensures that the player is removed from the field of play. An injured player may not be treated on the field of play and may only re-enter after play has restarted; if the ball is in play, re-entry must be from the touchline but if the ball is out of play, it may be from any boundary line. Exceptions to the requirement to leave the field of play are only when:
• a goalkeeper is injured
• a goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided and need attention
• players from the same team have collided and need attention
• a severe injury has occurred
• a player is injured as the result of a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned or sent off (e.g. reckless or serious foul challenge), if the assessment/treatment is completed quickly
• a penalty kick has been awarded and the injured player will be the kicker

—-

Yes, this tripped me up. I forgot. In an observed game. On video. With my chief!

It seems we have the LotG saying one thing quite clearly. But IFAB, PGMOL and most other competitions, ref training etc. are essentially adding another bullet exception: if the player does not receive treatment.

And after thinking a lot. It’s fine. They should update the book on this though. It’s fine because we already have the tool to deal with time wasting (added time). And with this interpretation we have flexibility to restart quicker.

(In other news I don’t buy @one ’s interpretation above at all! If you have to stop the game, surely you must perceive a serious injury, and the laws are crystal. The player must leave the FoP except… (no exception is written for no treatment. But if there is additional guidance contradicting this even from IFAB, they should fix the text!)

 

[one]

The laws are crystal clear in many other places. But we all know the number of places where the laws say something and mean something else would be well into triple digits (OK a bit of exaggeration here )

Hypothetical question. You stop play with a precieved serious injury but as you blow the whistle the player is up and running. What do you do? The law wants you to stop play if a player is seriously injured (and only then player is removed) but you clearly stopped it when the player was not seriously injured.

 

[DavidObs]

The laws are crystal clear in many other places. But we all know the number of places where the laws say something and mean something else would be well into triple digits (OK a bit of exaggeration here )

Hypothetical question. You stop play with a precieved serious injury but as you blow the whistle the player is up and running. What do you do? The law wants you to stop play if a player is seriously injured (and only then player is removed) but you clearly stopped it when the player was not seriously injured.

Dropped ball and player to remain on FoP since the physio (we assume) did not enter.

 

[santa sangria]

Dropped ball and player to remain on FoP since the physio (we assume) did not enter.

This isn’t supported by the LotG though. “The physio did not enter” is not in the exceptions about serious injuries. There is nothing in the laws about minor injuries. Yes, it’s common sense. But the law says you stop play (only) for a serious injury. If it’s not serious you wait until the next stoppage. According to the book, if you stop play for the injury, the player “must” leave (nothing about a physio).

Anyway, I’m kicking myself a bit because this “guidance” has been probably last in a PPT 3 years ago, I forgot. Waiting for the report. I did also have a (frankly exhilarating Mike Dean) advantage goal in the same match. Dream stuff with an observer, so fingers crossed for the report

 

[DavidObs]

This isn’t supported by the LotG though. “The physio did not enter” is not in the exceptions about serious injuries. There is nothing in the laws about minor injuries. Yes, it’s common sense. But the law says you stop play (only) for a serious injury. If it’s not serious you wait until the next stoppage. According to the book, if you stop play for the injury, the player “must” leave (nothing about a physio).

Anyway, I’m kicking myself a bit because this “guidance” has been probably last in a PPT 3 years ago, I forgot. Waiting for the report. I did also have a (frankly exhilarating Mike Dean) advantage goal in the same match. Dream stuff with an observer, so fingers crossed for the report

.