Injured Referee Procedure

 

To download this document click HERE

 

There is some uncertainty over the correct procedure/protocol to be adopted when the APPOINTED referee is injured and YOU are on the adjacent pitch or watching the game and are asked ‘’to help out’’, especially for League games.

 

The Federation advice is for games above level 8, politely decline the invitation unless you are graded level 8 or above.

 

Society advice is that for games below level 8 i.e. 9-12 politely decline the invitation.

 

For the sake of clarity, The Laws of the Game allow anyone to referee any game with the agreement of the captains. HOWEVER the London and South East League Regulations states the following:

 

Where the appointed referee is delayed or fails to arrive or where, during the course of a match, the referee is injured or is otherwise unable to continue, the competing clubs shall use their best efforts to agree to a substitute referee so allowing the match to be completed. In particular where another Society Referee is officiating in a junior game on the same or neighbouring ground, any failure to agree to his services by one or other of the competing Clubs will be investigated by the League Secretary and may result in a sanction against the Club.

 

Therefore please do not feel pressurised into accepting games outside of your agreed competence level. You will have the support of the Society if you decline such invitations.