Make the Call - Week 2/4 - 2/10

In a U-19 boys state cup final (white vs blue) 84th min. 2-2 game, white #11 receives permission from the referee to leave the field of play to change his shoes. White #11 is running toward the opponent's goal line to leave the field when the ball comes to him (he was not in offside position), so he kicks it into the goal and scores.

Make the call...

Answer: When the referee gave permission to white #11 to leave the field of play, he was expected to leave the field without participating in the game, and not return until given the approval of the referee. By playing the ball when he did, white #11 committed a misconduct. Therefore, the referee should stop play, disallow the goal and show the yellow card to white #11. After cautioning him for unsporting behavior (playing the ball after being granted permission to leave the field of play), the referee should restart the game with an indirect free kick for the blue team.

When a referee allows a player to leave the field while the ball is in play, he/she should ask the player to do so away from play and remind them not to interfere with play or the opponents.