# Replacement player > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Replacement_player > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Replacement_player.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replacement_player > Source revision: 1303756192 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Player who plays during an ongoing strike}} In [professional sports](/source/professional_sports), a '''replacement player''' is an [athlete](/source/sportsperson) who is not a member of the league's players association and plays during a labor dispute such as a [strike](/source/Strike_action) or [lockout](/source/Lockout_(industry)), serving as a [strikebreaker](/source/strikebreaker). Replacements related to strikes are mostly a North American phenomenon, since players in many other countries do not have league-wide collective salary bargaining (instead bargaining only with the club they are contracted to, and most commonly on an individual basis). A strike did however happen in the [2011–12 La Liga](/source/2011%E2%80%9312_La_Liga) season in [Spain](/source/Spain), but no replacement teams were set up. Elsewhere, replacement teams can occasionally happen through, among other things, [illness](/source/illness) breakouts (especially [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19)) and [aviation accident](/source/aviation_accident)s. == Instances of replacement players == === National Football League – 1987 === The [National Football League Players Association](/source/National_Football_League_Players_Association) (NFLPA) [went on strike in 1987](/source/1987_NFL_season), and the owners brought in replacement players to continue the season. After three weeks, many of the players on strike returned, weakening the union's position.{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Conrad |url=http://www.sportslawnews.com/archive/Articles%202000/NFLPAgameofficials.htm |title=NFL Players Seek Alliance With Game Officials |publisher=Sportslaw News |date=March 29, 2000 |location=New York |access-date=2008-12-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030422094109/http://www.sportslawnews.com/archive/Articles%202000/NFLPAgameofficials.htm |archive-date=April 22, 2003 }} === Major League Baseball – 1995 === {{Details|List of Major League Baseball replacement players}} In 1994, the [Major League Baseball Players Association](/source/Major_League_Baseball_Players_Association) (MLBPA) [went on strike](/source/1994_Major_League_Baseball_strike). [Spring training](/source/Spring_training) in 1995 started with replacement players. However, the dispute was settled before [regular season](/source/regular_season) games were played.{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-almanac.com/legendary/replacement_players.shtml |title=Replacement Players |publisher=Major Leagues Baseball Almanac |access-date=2008-12-26}} Players who agreed to serve as replacement players were subsequently [blacklist](/source/blacklist)ed by the MLBPA. === United States men's national soccer team – 2005 === In 2005, a labor conflict between the [United States Soccer Federation](/source/United_States_Soccer_Federation) and its players led to [United States men's national soccer team](/source/United_States_men's_national_soccer_team) players not reporting to camp in advance of [qualification for the 2006 World Cup](/source/Football_World_Cup_2006_(qualification_CONCACAF)). The camp was made up of replacement players from the [Major Indoor Soccer League](/source/Major_Indoor_Soccer_League_(2001%E2%80%932008)) and the lower-division [United Soccer Leagues](/source/United_Soccer_Leagues).{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86346060/us-replacement-soccer-players-shall-re/ |title=U.S. replacement soccer players shall remain nameless |agency=[AP](/source/Associated_Press) |newspaper=[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune) |page=4-2 |date=January 18, 2005 |accessdate=October 2, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} The two sides came to an agreement before any matches were played.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86346232/soccer-notebook-world-cup-update/ |title=Soccer Notebook: World Cup update |first=Joey |last=Delgado |newspaper=[The Salinas Californian](/source/The_Salinas_Californian) |page=18 |date=January 22, 2005 |accessdate=October 2, 2021 |via=newspapers.com}} === Toronto Triumph – 2011 === Twenty of the 26 players on the [Lingerie Football League](/source/Lingerie_Football_League)'s [Toronto Triumph](/source/Toronto_Triumph)—including team captain [Krista Ford](/source/Krista_Ford)—quit the team after its first game in 2011, citing numerous complaints, including injury concerns, incompetent coaching, and league management. The mass exodus left only starting quarterback Donna Paul and five other players still on the team. The Triumph added 10 replacement players to their roster to finish out the season. === Arena Football League – 2012 === The [Arena Football League](/source/Arena_Football_League) Players Union voted to go on strike on March 9, 2012, the same day as they were scheduled to begin the [2012 season](/source/2012_Arena_Football_League_season). However, the strike only lasted for six hours and only affected the season opener between the [Pittsburgh Power](/source/Pittsburgh_Power) and [Orlando Predators](/source/Orlando_Predators). For that game, about 20 of the 25 players were replacement players, but some regulars returned in the game during the second quarter. The regular players returned for the rest of the 2012 season. === Norway national football team – 2020 === During the [2020–21 UEFA Nations League B](/source/2020%E2%80%9321_UEFA_Nations_League_B) while preparing for 2 away matches against [Romania](/source/Romania_national_football_team) and [Austria](/source/Austria_national_football_team), the [Norway](/source/Norway_national_football_team) member [Omar Elabdellaoui](/source/Omar_Elabdellaoui) tested positive for [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19) on 13 November 2020.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dagsavisen.no/sport/2020/11/13/en-spiller-pa-norges-a-landslag-i-fotball-har-testet-positivt-pa-korona/|title=Én spiller på Norges A-landslag i fotball har testet positivt på korona|work=Dagsavisen |date=13 November 2020|access-date=26 December 2023|publisher=[Dagsavisen](/source/Dagsavisen)|language=nb}} Under Norwegian government rules at the time, this meant the entire squad he had been practicing with were banned from travelling to other countries while in quarantine. Norway had to forfeit their match against Romania 2 days later, but hastily set up a replacement squad (known locally as ''Nødlandslaget'' at the time) with an entirely different squad where every single player and coach had been replaced in time for the match against Austria on 18 November 2020,{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/sport/bekreftet_-norge-drar-til-osterrike-for-a-spille-kamp-1.15245301|title=Debuterer med nødlandslaget: – En spinnvill situasjon|date=15 November 2020|access-date=26 December 2023|language=nb|publisher=[NRK](/source/NRK)}} which they drew 1-1 after conceding a goal in [injury time](/source/injury_time). They missed out on a win that would've seen them promoted to the [2022–23 UEFA Nations League A](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_UEFA_Nations_League_A), but were nevertheless applauded for their effort back in [Norway](/source/Norway).{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrk.no/sport/slik-hylles-nodlandslaget_-_-dette-er-sa-vakkert-1.15250631|title=Slik hylles nødlandslaget: – Dette er så vakkert|language=nb|date=18 November 2020|access-date=26 December 2023|publisher=[NRK](/source/NRK)}} == Replacement officials == Though not technically players, professional officials have associations very similar to players associations. === National Hockey League – 1993 === The [National Hockey League](/source/National_Hockey_League) Officials Association struck in 1993. The league decided to bring in replacement officials, however many officials from the [minor league](/source/minor_league)s and high-level junior hockey stood with the union and refused to break the picket line. This led to the resolution of the strike after 17 days.{{cite web |url=http://www.nhlofficials.com/about_nhloa.asp |title=About NHLOA |publisher=National Hockey League Officials Association |access-date=2008-12-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114095927/http://www.nhlofficials.com/about_nhloa.asp |archive-date=2012-11-14 }} === Major League Baseball – 1999 === In 1999, 22 [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball) [umpires](/source/Umpire_(baseball)) resigned since their collective bargaining agreement with the [Major League Umpires Association](/source/Major_League_Umpires_Association) did not allow them to strike. The 12 umpires who decided not to resign were joined by 25 replacements. The umpires' posturing was unsuccessful and led to a lengthy legal battle. In the end, some – but not all – of the umpires who resigned were rehired, the Major League Umpires Association was decertified and a replacement union, the [World Umpires Association](/source/Major_League_Baseball_Umpires_Association) (now the Major League Baseball Umpires Association), was created to represent the umpires.{{cite web |first=Matthew J. |last=Lasky |url=http://www.fmew.com/archive/umpire/ |title=Major League Umpires Blow Call |publisher=Fmew.com |date=August 1999 |access-date=2008-12-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20021227173825/http://www.fmew.com/archive/umpire/ |archive-date=2002-12-27 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=1953109 |title=Six more will split $2.3M in severance pay |work=MLB |agency=Associated Press |publisher=ESPN |date=2004-12-24 |location=New York |access-date=2008-12-26}}[http://worldumpires.com/about.htm ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050306053951/http://worldumpires.com/about.htm |date=March 6, 2005 }} === National Football League=== ==== 2001 ==== Before the [2001 NFL season](/source/2001_NFL_season), the NFL and its officials' union were unable to secure a deal, resulting in the officials going on strike partway through the season. Replacement officials from the NCAA and [Arena Football League](/source/Arena_Football_League_(1987-2008)) were brought in to officiate games. Much to the surprise of the league, many fans found the replacement officials to be better than the ones who were doing the officiating in the first place, but after four weeks, an agreement was reached and the original officials returned to the field. ==== 2012 ==== {{main|2012 NFL referee lockout}} In June 2012, the [NFL Referees Association's](/source/National_Football_League_Referees_Association) collective bargaining agreement expired, resulting in the original officials being locked out. As a result, the league announced that replacement officials from the NCAA, the Arena Football League, and the [Indoor Football League](/source/Indoor_Football_League) would be used for the preseason and at least the first few weeks of the [regular season](/source/2012_NFL_season). Unlike the 2001 replacements, the 2012 replacements were widely criticized. The criticism spiked after a [September 2012 ''Monday Night Football'' game](/source/2012_Packers%E2%80%93Seahawks_officiating_controversy) ended in controversy after a crucial end-of-game [Hail Mary pass](/source/Hail_Mary_pass) was awarded to the wrong team, thus directly altering the outcome of the game. The NFL refused to overturn the erroneous call but intensified their efforts to reach a deal with the union. The two sides came to an agreement on September 26, 2012. The NFLRA officials officiated the Thursday night game the next day. ==Auto racing== ===NASCAR=== At the 1969 [NASCAR](/source/NASCAR) [Talladega 500](/source/1969_Talladega_500), many of the top drivers in the [Grand National Series](/source/Sprint_Cup_Series) boycotted the race, due to safety issues. The drivers who were part of the newly formed PDA (Professional Driver Association) led by [Richard Petty](/source/Richard_Petty), cited dangerous high speeds, coupled with tire grip/wear issues at the brand new [Alabama International Motor Speedway](/source/Talladega_Superspeedway). NASCAR scrambled to fill the field last-minute with other drivers not affiliated with the PDA, and drivers from the [Grand American series](/source/Grand_American) ("[pony cars](/source/pony_cars)") to run a race for the fans, most notably [Richard Childress](/source/Richard_Childress), who later won eleven NASCAR national titles as an owner. [Bobby Isaac](/source/Bobby_Isaac) won the pole position, and [Richard Brickhouse](/source/Richard_Brickhouse) won the race, his only career victory.[http://www.nascar.com/2009/news/opinion/04/23/retro.racing.maumann.rbrickhouse.talladega.1969/index.html Boycotted race in '69 led to surprise winner, changes] ===IndyCar=== During the first open wheel "[Split](/source/1979_Indianapolis_500)" between [USAC](/source/United_States_Auto_Club) and [CART](/source/Championship_Auto_Racing_Teams), the 1981 [Pocono 500](/source/Pocono_500_(IndyCar)) was boycotted by most of the CART-based entries. USAC responded by filling out the field with [Silver Crown](/source/United_States_Auto_Club) cars. A rag-tag field of Indy cars and converted dirt-track cars ran a two-class race. Rain halted the race shortly after the halfway point, and the race was ended early.{{Cite web |url=http://webpages.charter.net/lnowak/pocono81.htm |title=1981 Pocono 500 Photo Page |access-date=2012-01-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919145223/http://webpages.charter.net/lnowak/pocono81.htm |archive-date=2012-09-19 |url-status=dead }} Among the filler drivers were [Jack Hewitt](/source/Jack_Hewitt) and [Larry Rice](/source/Larry_Rice_(racing_driver)). The Silver Crown cars ran about 50 mph slower than the Indy cars, and when the race was called at lap 122 (of 200), the highest-running of the 8 Silver Crown cars was Mark Alderson, who was 18 laps down in 11th place to race winner [A.J. Foyt](/source/A.J._Foyt), in what would turn out to be Foyt's last win in Indycar. It would be USAC's final Indy car race outside of the [Indianapolis 500](/source/Indianapolis_500). [CART](/source/Championship_Auto_Racing_Teams)-based teams boycotted the [1996 Indianapolis 500](/source/1996_Indianapolis_500) in the wake of the formation of the [Indy Racing League](/source/IndyCar_Series), and the creation of the "25/8 rule," which they interpreted as a lockout by the IRL and the [Indianapolis Motor Speedway](/source/Indianapolis_Motor_Speedway). CART teams staged a competing race, the [U.S. 500](/source/1996_U.S._500) at [Michigan](/source/Michigan_International_Speedway). Participants in the 1996 Indy 500 included several familiar [Indy car](/source/American_open-wheel_car_racing) teams such as [Foyt](/source/A._J._Foyt_Enterprises), [Dick Simon](/source/Dick_Simon_Racing), and [Menard](/source/Team_Menard). However, many of the drivers were inexperienced rookies from an obscure range of backgrounds, giving the impression of a field of replacement drivers.{{Cite book|last=Hungess|first=Carl|title=The 1996 Indianapolis 500 Yearbook|publisher=Carl Hungness Publishing|year=1996|isbn=0-915088-78-9}} The 1996 Indy 500 entrants managed to fill the field to 33 cars, but only one car was bumped (then-unknown [Billy Boat](/source/Billy_Boat)), and there was a post-WWII record 17 rookies. The field included such unknown drivers as [Racin Gardner](/source/Racin_Gardner) ([land speed record](/source/land_speed_record)s), [Brad Murphey](/source/Brad_Murphey) (who was also a former [bronco riding](/source/Saddle_bronc_and_bareback_riding) champion), [Joe Gosek](/source/Joe_Gosek) ([supermodifieds](/source/Supermodified_racing)), as well as [Johnny Parsons](/source/Johnny_Parsons) and [Danny Ongais](/source/Danny_Ongais); both of whom had not driven in the race since [1986](/source/1986_Indianapolis_500). == See also == *[Strikebreaker](/source/Strikebreaker) == References == {{reflist}} Category:Terminology used in multiple sports --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Replacement player](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replacement_player) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Replacement_player?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.