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Disciplinary action before game started: red card for Evra

Referee Tamás Bognár had to take disciplinary action before the game even started. In the Europa League match between Vitória SC – Olympique de Marseille Patrice Evra was reacting to angry fans. In the video you can see him kicking a fan in his face. But unfortunately the refereeing crew from Hungary saw the incident and red-carded him.

Did you know a player can be sent-off even during the warming-up? Check the video first and then read the explanation below.

Journalist Karim Attab filmed the scenes.

And a clearer image from the incident

Laws of the Game explanation

The Laws of the Game are very clear about this. You can check it out on page 60. “The has the authority to take disciplinary action from entering the field of play for the pre-match inspection until leaving the field of play after the match ends (including kicks from the penalty mark). If, before entering the field of play at the start of the match, a player commits a sending-off offence, the referee has the authority to prevent the player taking part in the match (see Law 3.6); the referee will report any other misconduct

How to handle? 11 vs 11 or not?

Yes, both teams can start with 11 players.

The Laws of the Game (page 48) are clear again. A replacement for Evra can start the game, because the incident happens before the kick-off.

In this case we don’t know if the team list was already submitted, but probably it was in a CL game. At our own levels the admin might come in a bit late 😉

The LOTG say: “A player who is sent off before submission of the team list can not be named on the team list in any capacity.”

And also: A player who is sent off after being named on the team list and before kick-off may be replaced by a named substitute, who can not be replaced; the number of substitutions the team can make is not reduced.”

Uefa started disciplinary action proceedings

British newspaper The Guardian mentions that Uefa started disciplinary action proceedings. Click the image to read their article.

Disciplinary action against Evra by The Guardian
Disciplinary action against Evra by The Guardian

 

4 Comments

  • Emil

    My question: where is the referee and how did he see it? Obviously, the referee must see it himself to be able to punish Evra. Did he see the kick?

    • Jan ter Harmsel

      Hi Emil,

      Been trying to figure that out, but they might have been doing their warming-up or the 4th official is out. I have not see pictures that a red card was shown to him actually.

  • David Halter

    I just don’t understand that if the teamsheet is already out, there can be a replacement who cannot be replaced (during the game, right?). What if the replacement gets injured? What’s the thinking behind this?

    • Jan ter Harmsel

      No, David. If you have 7 on the bench and they are on the teamsheet. One player replaces the one on the field of play. Then six players remain on the bench. You can’t punt one extra on the bench then to replace that 7th bench player. The coach have to deal with six subs then to choose from.

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