A player who is off the field of play to receive medical treatment trips a player who is on the field of play. What decision does the referee make?

When a player who is off the field of play trips another player who is on the field, the situation warrants a serious response from the referee. The correct decision is to either caution or send off the offending player, depending on the severity of the action and the nature of the foul.

This is rooted in the principle of player safety and sportsmanship. Even though the player is not actively participating in the game due to being off the field for medical treatment, they are still considered part of the match scenario. Tripping a player, especially intentionally or recklessly, poses a danger and disrupts the flow of the game.

The referee must take appropriate action to maintain the integrity of the game and ensure safety for all participants. Ignoring the incident would undermine the rules and could lead to further issues on the field. Awarding a goal kick or allowing play to continue would not address the misconduct and would fail to penalize the behavior of the player who acted recklessly. Therefore, the referee’s responsibility to uphold the laws of the game and protect players leads to the conclusion that the correct action is to either caution or send off the player involved in the foul.