Shoe or Shin guard comes off

[law5guy]

Happened to me while refereeing.. (no MY shinguard didn't come off) ;)

What is the call when a player's shoe or shinguard comes off, but he plays the ball ... starts to dribble down the field?

Shoes/shinguards are required equipment, so, is this dangerous play? Indirect free kick?

Or, is he allowed to continue playing 'at his own risk' so to speak.

The Q/A http://www.fifa.com/fifa/handbook/laws/2004/QA/Q&A2004_E.pdf has only one mention of something like this... but, seems to touch on only a immediate/un intentional act:
10. A player accidentally loses his footwear and immediately scores a goal.
Is this permitted?
Yes. The player did not intentionally play barefoot, because he lost his
footwear by accident.

Dribbling the ball down field with out a shinguard, or playing the ball while holding one's shoe would seem intentional and not an immediate event.

Comments please? I called it dangerous play. Just wanted to make sure I was OK? ... or not?

Thanks in advance...

[Gary V]

This would be an equipment issue, not a Law 12 issue, so no PIADM call with an IFK restart. If a player cannot correct his equipment at the next stoppage, he must leave the field until it is corrected.

I had something similar happen last week. I saw the player's sock drooping down, exposing about half the shinguard. The top velcro was loose. I was going to say something to him a the next stoppage to get it fixed. He kicks the ball, and the shinguard goes flying. His teammate recovered it for him, and I told him no more play until it was fixed.

If there was an equipment failure that caused an imminent danger, you could stop play proactively to protect either the player himself or others. The restart then would be a dropped ball.

[romagol10]

If the player recieves the ball right after losing the equiptment or loses equiptment while in possession of the ball I would let the play finish before making them put it back on, whether that means they dribble the length of the field or defend on the ball or whatever until the balls out of play or across the field. I think FIFA could have used a better example than scoring a goal immediately after losing equiptment because a goal is a stop in play and nobody is going to stop themselves from scoring to put a shoe back on. I wouldn't penalize a player unless they refused to put the shoe back on during a stoppage or when they weren't anywhere near the ball.

[Caesar]

I've had this happen in a match before, and thrashed it out with a State Inspector afterwards.

Per the FIFA instruction, with something accidental like this play should be allowed to continue. However, if the player is challenged for the ball, he should immediately be penalised for dangerous play with an IFK. The rationale is that he is forcing the opposition to make a challenge which endangers his safety.

[HoldenMan]

if he loses his shoe or shinpad then he can do what he likes - even take a host at goal for all i care. But, if he gets into a situation where he may be challenged then IFK for playing ina dangerous manner

[Quake87]

HM.. How about if its the goalkeeper... In one of my games today i had a goalie lose her shoe and she picked it up and tried to play while holding it. The attacking team scores... is it still a GOAL?

[IASocFan]

HM.. How about if its the goalkeeper... In one of my games today i had a goalie lose her shoe and she picked it up and tried to play while holding it. The attacking team scores... is it still a GOAL?

Definitely an advantage situation. The keeper can put her shoe on during the stoppage before the kickoff.

[ProfZodiac]

Can we use Law 18 here? Say I'm refereeing U-12's and little Johnny receives the ball from his goalkeeper in his own half of the field (Johnny's a defender.). He starts to dribble upfield and a cleat that was tied but too loose falls off. He's clear in the other half by the time he's challenged, and shortly after he is, he lays the ball off to another player. Am I going to stop play because he was challenged before he passed the ball? It doesn't make much sense. For the sake of continuity, at least for U-littles, the ref should probably let it go. The kid is sure as hell going to notice the missing equipment, and go to retrieve it at the next opportunity. Running on a not-so-grassy field without a shoe isn't very comfortable.

[HoldenMan]

I disagree. There are obvious safety concerns here. furthermore, we have more of a duty to protect the little ones than the adults, I believe - player safety is more of a concern.

If there is a challenge, or about to be a challenge, play must be stopped for the obvious safety issues. And a drop ball isn't the correct restart.