The question “can a soccer player refuse to be substituted” is simply yes. A soccer player can refuse to be substituted but only with reasons either personal within themselves or controversial with the coach.
Substitutions in soccer are a critical way of re-evaluating players who are to carry on in the game or for some players to come to sit on the bench. In addition, it creates room for coaches to make drastic and tactical changes that may just bring success to the club.
But notwithstanding, there are cases where a soccer player can say “No” to being substituted and allowed to proceed with the game.
In this article, we look into the reasons why a soccer player may refuse to be substituted and what cases may lead a coach to want to substitute a player.
Let’s get into it.
Can A Football Player Refuse To Be Substituted?
As stated earlier, yes, a soccer player can refuse to be substituted and hence, must continue the game. Following Law 3 of the Laws of the Game,
“if a player refuses to be substituted, the game will continue”
Once a player says no to substitution, there’s nothing or anyone that can stop him from playing and not continuing the game. This rule has been abided by for a very long time now and for this, it is allowed to happen in a game.
A case of substitution refusal was in 2017 by Cristiano Ronaldo whilst playing for Real Madrid. The club was losing against Bayern Munich and the coach, Zinedine Zidane thought it would be a success for them if he substituted Ronaldo for Asensio since Asensio is most likely to be warmed up for the game.
The all-time superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo refused the substitution and continued to play the game (of course he knows the rule book).
This refusal led to Asensio being replaced by Kroos but Ronaldo continued in the game and of course at the end, bringing it home. He scored two more goals and just like that finished off his hat-trick in the game and victory was celebrated for Real Madrid.
It’s worth noting that Ronaldo is not the only player to refuse a substitution. Zlatan Ibrahimovic famously did it back in 2010, and even Lionel Messi had his own little episode in 2014.
The following are reasons why a soccer player may refuse to sit out a game:
Personal Reason
In many cases have we seen soccer players wanting to improve at the last minute of the game or even the second half, they take a different pace and speed that becomes surprising.
It always seems like a miracle when suddenly a cat player is now a lion player.
For this reason, soccer players may refuse substitution because they believe, they can and want to now do more and bring it home for the team.
I mean, miracles happen most of the time, especially when it’s an important game of the season. Only then can a player refuse to sit out on the bench but rather continue playing the game.
Dispute With The Coach
Another reason why a player might refuse to be substituted is if there’s some sort of disagreement or dispute with the coach.
It could be something as simple as the player thinking they deserve more playing time or as complex as a full-blown feud.
But when it comes to substitutions, things can get pretty heated. Imagine a player who’s dying to prove himself on the field, only to be told he’s being subbed out for someone else. That’s going to hurt badly.
In some cases, a player might feel like the coach is trying to undermine their skills or make them look bad in front of the fans. So what do they do? They refuse to be substituted and stay in the game to prove their worth.
Now, we’re not saying this is the most mature way to handle the situation, but soccer is a high-stakes game. And when emotions are running high, anything can happen
Injury Concerns
There are cases where soccer players are substituted for someone fitter than them especially when they may have sustained an injury.
If a player feels he is not injured and is fully competent to continue the game, he may refuse substitution.
But, he is to communicate effectively with the coach explaining how he feels, saying he is not exhausted, and explaining how to fit he is to continue.
Also, to confirm what the player says, he will be examined by the medical team before the coach can accept his refusal. Once the medical team clears him, he is then allowed to continue in the game.
What Happens If A Soccer Player Refuses To Get Substituted?
This is part of the 3rd law of the game which states that during a substitution, the game continues if the player to be substituted refuses the substitution.
The referees are not the ultimate decision-makers on who gets to stay on the soccer field and who doesn’t.
No, that job belongs to the coach and the players themselves. So, if a player decides to stick around and ignore the substitution request, the referee’s hands are tied and they just have to let the game go on as usual.
What Are The Consequences For Players Who Refuse To Be Substituted?
It is important to bear in mind that coaches may accept refusal to be substituted but doing this as a team is not sporty and does not speak well for the team and club as a whole.
The team players are in a somewhat way supposed to be respectful toward their coach and believe he is making the right decision for the team as a whole and not for selfish or questionable reasons.
When this happens, a soccer player refusing substitution may build distrust, pressure, and worry among the team which could lead to failure and the breaking of the bond of the team.
For this reason, there are some consequences soccer players have to bear when they refuse to be substituted during a game to punish the team and maintain peace and orderliness.
- The player loses their coach’s trust and respect
- The player goes through disciplinary measures
- A yellow card or red card is given to a such player
Why Do Coaches Substitute Players?
Before the beginning of a match, each team is allowed 3-5 substitutions in the entirety of the game. Substitutions are a critical way of evaluating the game and changing the outcome in the team’s favor.
For this reason, early and late substitutions are made by coaches in either the first or second half of the game.
Coaches substitute players for one of the following reasons:
- To bring in a new player who is well-rested and packed with endurance, stamina, and agility
- To change the tactics and dynamics of the game for example to substitute a defender for an attacker, or a winger it striker.
- To replace an injured player or a poorly-performing player
- To replace a player who is being disrespectful
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Final Thoughts
Soccer is a beautiful game, no doubt. But when it comes to substitutions, things can get pretty heated on the field.
Imagine yourself as a player, completely engrossed in the game, giving it your all, then suddenly, the coach signals for a substitution. You might not be too happy about it. Your frustration might reach a boiling point, causing you to react like a child who’s just been denied their favorite treat.
You might even kick up a bit of a fuss, making your reluctance to leave the field abundantly clear.
To sum it up: yes, players can refuse to be substituted. But they might want to think twice before doing so. Nobody likes a sore loser (or sore substitute, for that matter).
