Make the Call - Week 1/20-1/26

Blue defender #6 fouls (reckless foul) Red attacker #9 in the penalty area and the center referee whistles and signals for a penalty kick. Before the PK is taken, the senior assistant referee signals the center referee for a conference and informs him that the Red team has too many players on the field, and that Red #9 was supposed to have substituted out of the game at the last substitution break but came back onto the field.

Q. What is the proper restart? What if any disciplinary action should be taken?

Post your comments.


Answer:
Law 3 (in the Interpretation of the Laws of the Game in the back of the book) tells us:

Substitute or substituted player
 If a substitute or a substituted player enters the field of play without permission:
 • the referee must stop play (although not immediately if the player in question does not interfere with play or if the advantage can be applied)
 • the referee must caution him for unsporting behavior
 • the player must leave the field of play
 If the referee stops play, it must be restarted with an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the position of the ball when play was stopped
(see Law 13 – Position of free kick).

The referee did not stop play for player #9's entry without permission,
but because he was “fouled” by defender #6. Because #9 was NOT a player,
no foul could be called for #6's “foul”; however, #6 may be cautioned for unsporting behavior.
Player #9 must also be cautioned for unsporting behavior (entering without permission) and removed from the field, and the game will be restarted with an indirect free kick for #6's team from the position of the ball when play was stopped for the “foul” (see Law 13 — Position of free kick)