Question:
In the 2007 USSF memorandum, there appears to be a conflict with the wording in the advice to the referees and the text of the 2007 FIFA LOTG. This is in regards to an undergarment worn under the shirt.

The text of the LOTG states: a jersey or shirt – if undergarments are worn, the color of the sleeve should be the same main color as the sleeve of the jersey or shirt.

While the advice to the referees states: The general purpose of this change is to ensure that the visible color of any portion of a garment worn underneath the jersey or shorts is consistent with the main color of the jersey or shorts.

So, my question would be if a player has a blue jersey with white sleeves, does the undershirt have to be blue or white?

Answer (August 16, 2007):
We would refer to the “changes” you outline as minor adjustments in interpretation. The intention in Memorandum 2007 was to ensure that whatever extends beyond the uniform be seen as much as possible as an extension of the uniform. Note, for example, the language of the original restriction on undergarments (sliders, thermal/compression undershorts, etc.); they were required to be the same main color as the shorts. The Law didn’t say the same main color as the legs of the shorts, even though it is possible for the legs of the shorts to be a different color than the waist area of the shorts. The current language is an applicable generalization: Whatever part of the uniform the undergarment extends from is what the undergarment should match.

You might also remember that the Advice to Referees makes it quite clear that its contents may become out of date when new memoranda are issued by FIFA or the United States Soccer Federation.…

Question:
Question # 58 on this test: A player injures himself/herself while taking shot on goal. As the ball is being retrieved, the player is being treated off the field. Just before the ensuing goal kick can be taken, the player is ready to return to the field. The referee may allow the player to return before the goal kick is taken. True or False. The answer key has true. When reading 2007/2008 Laws of the game page 16 under Powers and Duties 8th note stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that he is removed from the field of play. An injured player may only return to the field of play after the match has restarted.The question that I am asking you is can a player return prior to the restart of any play?

Answer (August 7, 2007):
While it is true that the referee ” stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that he is removed from the field of play. An injured player may only return to the field of play after the match has restarted,” as written in Law 5, it is clear from the question in the test that play was stopped not for the injury but for the ball out of play. Therefore Law 5 does not apply, but this series of statements in the USSF publication “Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game” does apply: Only the referee may permit the return to the field of play of a player who was permitted to leave the field for treatment of an injury. This is not a substitution. The player who left the field for treatment of an injury may return during play with the permission of the referee, but only from the touch line. If the ball is out of play, the player may return with the permission of the referee across any boundary line.…

Question:
What happens if the goal is shifted off the line (away from the field of play) and this allows a ball to enter the goal that otherwise would not have done so? Does it matter whether the defending team or the attacking team moves the goal? Does it matter if it is intentional or not? The specific situation being questioned is that a corner kick became trapped between a defender’s body and the post, and when the defender tried to move the ball away, the post shifted back and the ball dropped into the goal. The referee awarded a goal.

Answer (August 7, 2007):
Unfair as it may seem, the referee should not have awarded the goal–nor should he or she have started the game with an unsecured goal. The game must be restarted with a dropped ball at the nearest place on the goal area line six yards out from the goal line and parallel to it.…

Question:
I have a question about the AR duties. Are the ARs required to do all their duties listed under Law 6 or can the referee instruct them which duties they will do during their pregame conference. I was an AR in a game and the referee instructed us to only mark the offside rule and when the ball went out of bounce in our pregame conference or are we required to do all the duties listed in Law 6 no matter what the referee tells us in the pregame conference. Is this procedure legal. We did exactly what the referee told us to do in the pregame conference, but we had unhappy players and fans cause we wouldn’t signal any fouls that the referee might of not been able to see, so did we do right doing what the referee told us to do. I hope you can assist me on this matter for future situations like this one. Thanks.

Answer (July 27, 2007):
Unless the AR has shown he or she cannot do the job correctly, the referee cannot change or alter the duties assigned to the assistant referee by Law 6. However, as pointed out in the USSF publication “Guide to Procedures for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials,” the referee should explain in the pregame conference among the game officials what mechanics he or she might wish the AR to use in particular situations.…

Question:
Here’s the situation. The referee blows the final whistle after time has fully expired with no question to whether 90 minutes has gone by. After blowing the whistle, the referee sees the trailing AR waving his flag and a fight happening between two opposing players in the penalty area. After the fight is settled, the AR tells the referee that the defender struck the attacker inside of the defender’s penalty area first before the final whistle. Now, of course all misconduct would be dealt with as necessary. That is not what I’m interested in. What I am interested in is the restart (if there is one). Assuming the referee accepts the AR’s version of events, I want to know if a penalty kick for the attacking team would be appropriate. I know that the Law says a referee can change a decision provided the game has not been restarted, but it also says when the referee has terminated the match. Moreover, I thought that the Law was changed in direct response to a similar incident where a FIFA referee blew the final whistle but then accepted the missed AR’s signal. I don’t think that the penalty kick should be given, but could you clarify?

Answer (July 10, 2007):
The misconduct issue is clear. The referee must give whatever cards are appropriate prior to any restart. In this case, a send-off/red card for violent conduct.

As to the correct restart, suppose the exact same sequence of events had occurred but, instead of the referee blowing the whistle for full time, the ball had left the field for a throw-in or goal kick. Wouldn’t it be pretty clear that we would negate the normal restart and give the PK because, once we accept the AR’s information, we would count play as having stopped at that time? This matter is actually covered in the IFAB/FIFA Q&A 2006. The same argument applies here as well. If the assistant referee says the offense occurred before time ran out (based on the referee’s signal) and the referee decides to accept the AR’s information, then time has NOT run out–at least not yet. Given the short period of time involved, the correct restart is a penalty kick taken in extended time. And the referee had better take steps to protect the AR.…

Question:
I had two situations that arose recently, and I was hoping for some guidance.

1. Unreported Substitution Prior to Kick-Off
In a match in which teams are only allowed seven substitutions and must nominate their starters prior to kick-off, we had the following occur. Both teams were checked in and their starters were marked on their line-up. In around the 50th minute, a player reported to the fourth official to substitute when it was discovered he was one of the nominated starters. Further, he sought to replace a nominated substitute who had been participating in the match from the beginning. The FIFA Q&A directs us that we can allow the nominated substitute to continue after being cautioned and complying with the substitution procedure. However, what happens if a team chooses to rectify their “mistake” and place the appropriate starting player in to the match? Further, is the nominated substitute subsequently permitted to become a substitute later in the match?

Further, do you have any advice on how to avoid such a problem in the future? This was an amateur match in which players only had numbers on their backs and it would have been quite difficult to confirm that the appropriate players are on the field at kick-off.

2. Unobserved Player Keeping Opponent Onside
In a recent match played in hot weather, the goalkeeper kept a water bottle about one yard beyond the goal line. One of her teammates was taking a drink unnoticed by the AR when an attacker received the ball in an apparent offside position. The AR indicated as such and the referee stopped play. It was only at this time that the second defender was noticed by the AR. What is the appropriate restart? Further, assuming that the defender had no ill-intent to deceive the officials, should the referee consider any sort of sanction for misconduct against the thirsty player?

Answer (July 10, 2007):
1. The nominated substitute who started the game became the player as soon as the game kicked off and, if removed for a substitute (the original player who was not there at the beginning), may not re-enter the game (unless the rules of the competition specify otherwise). He or she is cautioned for unsporting behavior and shown the yellow card.

2. The appropriate restart is a dropped ball, in accordance with Law 8. If there is no reason to suspect deceit, then no punishment is required; however, the referee could decide to issue a caution for leaving the field of play without the permission of the referee.…

Question:
I’ve been questioned for advice by a junior referee on the following situation:
Referee whistles a foul that would call for an IFK restart. However referee fails to signal IFK, kick is taken, and the ball travels directly into the3 opponent’s goal.

What is the current consensus on the referee’s next action? Restart? (Retake, Goal-Kick, or Center-Kick?)

Answer (July 9, 2007):
The Questions and Answers 2006 tells us:
6. An indirect free kick is awarded to the attacking team outside the opponents’ penalty area. The referee fails to raise his arm to indicate that the kick is indirect and the ball is kicked directly into the goal. What action does the referee take?
He has the free kick retaken because of the referee’s mistake. The initial indirect free kick, is not nullified by the referee’s mistake.

7. A player takes a quick free kick and the ball goes into goal. The referee has not had the opportunity to indicate that the free kick was indirect. What action should the referee take?
Order the kick to be retaken as the original offence only merited an indirect free kick but the referee did not have the opportunity to give the recognized signal.

This information is repeated in the Laws of the Game 2007, under Additional Instructions and Guidelines for Referees:
LAW 13 – FREE KICKS

Procedure
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An indirect free kick should be retaken if the referee fails to raise his arm to indicate that the kick is indirect and the ball is kicked directly into the goal. The initial indirect free kick is not nullified by the referee’s mistake.…