What are players and substitutes in football/soccer?
What are the requirements for players and substitutes in football/soccer?
What happens if...
The game can go ahead as long as the team has at least seven players. Any player arriving after kick-off may play, as long as their name was on the team list given to the referee before the game.
The game must be abandoned and the referee must submit a report to the appropriate authorities after the game.
The referee must stop the game, reduce the team to the correct number of players and submit a report to the appropriate authorities after the game.
The extra player must be removed from the pitch and:
if the game has not restarted, the goal is disallowed, and play is restarted with a direct free kick to the other team from the position of the extra player
if the game has restarted, the goal is allowed, play continues, and the matter is reported to the appropriate authorities after the game
See also ‘Substitutes or team officials’ under ‘Interference on the pitch’.
Play continues and both players are shown a yellow card the next time there is a stoppage in play.
