'Are you going to write about the
Reading match in the Evening Post this week' called out
a man in the bar, knowing that I had been to see Reading play
Crystal Palace. 'Not my job' I said, 'I'll leave it to Nick
Ive. I should have mentioned, however, that there was a short
series of related incidents, that were probably unnoticed by
most spectators, perhaps even by Nick, but which could have
brought into focus a little known part of the Laws.
Did you know, for instance, that a
substitute can be sent off without ever setting foot on the
field of play? Or that a player can be sent off before the
game has started?
These incidents started when the
assistant referee running the line nearest the technical
areas, flagged for an offside against Reading, which was
greeted with great disdain by the Reading faithful. A couple
of Reading substitutes warming up along the line, couldn't
resist stopping to have a go at the assistant referee, as they
went past him. The assistant referee waved them away but said
nothing to them.
However, a few minutes later he beckoned
the fourth official over, who in turn had words with the
Reading management in the technical area. I've no doubt he
warned that the substitutes should be restrained from such
behaviour, otherwise they could find themselves in
trouble.
Of course I don't know what the two
substitutes said to the assistant referee but I think we can
safely assume it was not complimentary. If the assistant had
taken greater offence at their comments, he might have called
the referee over, rather than the fourth official. The two
players could then have found themselves in the referee's book
and shown the yellow card. If, and I'm not suggesting that
they did, but if they used language which was insulting,
abusive or offensive they could have received the red card,
which would have meant they could not take part in the
game.
Any substitute on the line who thinks he
can abuse the referee or the assistant referees, because he is
not yet on the field of play, should think again. Law 3 says
'All substitutes are subject to the authority of the referee
whether called upon to play or not'.
The same is true of any player who has
been substituted but continues to watch the match. He
shouldn't act as if he is now just a spectator and free to
name-call the referee. He can't be sent off of course, but he
will be reported as if he had received the red card and be
made to leave the side of the pitch.
The referees jurisdiction and authority
are subjects not understood by many players or even club
officials. The referee's jurisdiction commences the moment he
arrives at the ground, whether it be Prospect Park or the
Madejski Stadium, and ends when he leaves. Any misconduct by
players or officials during that time can be reported by the
referee. It is the referee's authority, however, which gives
him the power to caution and send off players.
That starts when he enters the field of
play to commence the game and ends when he leaves it after the
final whistle, and it includes the half time interval, even
though players may leave the field. This means that if, after
the referee has stepped foot on the pitch but before he has
blown for kick-off, a player should abuse him, or perhaps
strike another player, he will be sent off. He can the law
says, be replaced, but only by a named substitute.
Any substitute who is sent off before,
or during the game, cannot be replaced. Not something
that happens often but I think the Reading substitutes should
be grateful that the assistant referee on that afternoon took
a lenient view.
Dick Sawdon Smith