ONE small change to the Laws this season has antagonised a few players when they have been substituted.

The procedure for a substitution is it can only happen at a stoppage in play.

The player coming on must wait until the leaving player has left the field of play and then come on at the halfway line, after receiving a signal from the referee.

The Law has never required the player being substituted to leave at the halfway line, but apart from injuries, this has become the custom, with both players greeting each other as they head in opposite directions.

This is where the change has been made.

The Law now says ‘unless already off the field, the substituted player must leave by the nearest point on the boundary line’.

This may be the touch or goalline.

I first saw this happen (or not happen) at Madejski Stadium.

The referee pointed to the east stand touchline for the player to go off, but he refused to do so.

The referee stood in the middle looking as if he didn’t know what to do next.

What he should have done, was show the player a yellow card as he made his way to his team’s technical area.

I have since seen videos where other annoyed players have ignored the referee’s indication of where they should leave and have received the yellow card.

The feelings of the players can perhaps be understood.

They are probably angry at being substituted and then told to take the long way off.

There are some exceptions.

The referee may think it would cause some safety or security problems.

Imagine for instance, Raheem Sterling being made to leave on the far side of the pitch and having to pass the bigmouths of the Bulgarian supporters.

Also of course, injured players will not be forced to take the long route,

Those players who leave as prescribed, can still face a yellow card if they hang about and do not go immediately to their dressing room or technical area.