Was Mark Halsey Right Not To Apply Law 5

during the game yesterday evening when both Cassetti and Ekstrand required treatment after a collision.

Law 5 is absolutely clear on this point that the referee MUST ensure the players are removed from the field of play and can only be allowed to re-enter after play has been restarted.

Play would have been restarted by Aaron Gunnarsonn taking a long throw into the Watford penalty area and under the laws to the game would of had to defend it without 2 of their CB.

During the Capital 1 Cup match at Northampton we had to play for 4 minutes without Jordan Mutch who at the time Northampton scored the winning goal was stood at the touchline waiting for permission to re-enter the field of play.

Don Goodman on Sky thought that Mark Halsey did the "Right" thing but strictly under the rules he didn't.

I wonder what would of happened if the shoe had been on the other foot, as it has been on a number of occasions this season.

Bet I'm not the only one thinking we wouldn't have got the same consideration.

Mark Halsey's decision was correct. The two scenarios where this law doesn't apply are: when there's a collision with two players of the same team. This is what happened yesterday. It's deemed as gaining a un fair advantage, going down to 9 men. The other scenario is if the goalkeeper collided with one of the other teams players. No foul but both players needed treatment, because the goalkeeper doesn't have to go off the other player can stay on to.

Mark Halsey's decision was correct. The two scenarios where this law doesn't apply are: when there's a collision with two players of the same team. This is what happened yesterday. It's deemed as gaining a un fair advantage, going down to 9 men. The other scenario is if the goalkeeper collided with one of the other teams players. No foul but both players needed treatment, because the goalkeeper doesn't have to go off the other player can stay on to.

Thought that Turner and Cassetti challenged for the cross and Cassetti came off worse, Ekstrand was hit by Almunia and then bounced off Turner landing on Cassetti. Interesting point because Cassetti wasn't getting up in a hurry after coming off worst from the Turner challenge and I think Halsey took the easy option in letting both of them stay on.

Almunia hit Rudy on the way through it would have been intersting what would have happened with Rudy if he needed treatment.Against the Wurzels Nugent collided with Marshall and needed treatment and the referee that day, Eddie Ilderton, sent him to the touchline.

To me the rule is a nonsense and is one which is not consistently applied and yesterday was a good example as in my opinion Cassetti, at least, should have been standing on the touchline.

I think Ekstrand came charging in, taking Cassetti out. But I could be wrong

With the Marshall/Nugent collision. The goalkeeper can't go off, so we couldn't go down to 9 players. That's why he send Nugent to the touchline.

Like you I think the rule is nonsense