Substitutes orteam officialsSubstitutes orteam officials

If there is no interference with the game:

• the referee can allow the game to continue
• when the game stops, the offending person is:
• shown a yellow card for entering the pitch without permission
• required to leave the pitch (if they are a substitute or substituted player)

If there is interference with the game:

• the referee stops play (unless an advantage can be played) and awards a direct free kick (or penalty kick if the interference is in the offending player’s penalty area) and the offending person is:
• shown a yellow card for entering the pitch without permission, if they are a player
• shown a second yellow card and then a red card if they have committed another offence, e.g. a reckless tackle or arguing with the referee
• shown a red card if they have committed a sending-off offence (e.g. violent conduct, serious foul play, denying the other team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity)
• required to leave the pitch (if they are a substitute or substituted player)