Sitch 2

[ChuckElias]

Originally posted by Dan_ref

It doesn't; and I'm pretty sure I never did either.

If by error the clock is NOT started we can put time on it, but we can't let A1 re-enter?

If the clock didn't start when it should have, why would you put time back on the clock?

But even if you take time off the clock b/c it failed to start properly, that doesn't change the fact that it failed to start properly.

I cannot believe you're serious about this.

What your argument should have read is:

The official signalled the clock to be properly started. The timer, in error, did not start the clock properly. Under the rules we are authorized to correct such timing errors. Therefore, according to the rule, the sub can re-enter. QED.

Look, I admit that sometimes I throw stuff out there just to advance the discussion (e.g., the thread about an inadvertant whistle right before a successful goal). But it seems to me that this is soooooo black-and-white and soooooo unambiguous that there isn't any room around what the rule actually says.

So let's review what the rule actually says. When A1 subs out, he is not allowed to re-enter the game until two things happen:

1) There is another opportunity to substitute; and
2) The clock has properly started.

That's it. Those are the necessary conditions for re-entry to the game. As I keep saying, it's unambiguous. There's no case play that lets us interpret (2) as "The clock has or should have been properly started". There just isn't. There probably should be, but there isn't.

Again, I'm not trying to be holier-than-anybody; my way or the highway. I just don't see any rules-based way to allow the sub in the situation that we're talking about.