Question Number: 23752

Law 3 - Number of Players 8/9/2010

RE: Under 17

Caleb Appiah of Kumasi, Ghana asks...

What happens if there are only four players on the field of play due cards shown or severe injuries and the particular team has no extra player?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Caleb
Once the number of players on a team goes below seven due to injuries, dismissals etc the referee is usually advised by its Association to abandon the game and report the situation to the competition authority.
Also a game cannot start with less then seven players on a team.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If there is an injury that will take the team to only 6 players, that player is given a reasonable amount of time to recover while the game is suspended. But if it doesn't appear that he will be able to return to the game, it is abandoned.

If the game goes to kicks from the penalty mark to determine a winner, there is no longer a requirement for 7 players. As long as a team has one remaining player, the kicks may continue until a winner is determined.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

FIFA recommends that the match be abandoned if either team has less than seven players. The rules of competition, however, will govern.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

It's almost universally accepted that below 7 and the match stops. Your local association may allow less