Question Number: 12355

Law 18 - Common Sense 3/13/2006

RE: Select Under 15

Dennis Ward of Saratoga Springs, New York USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 9115

Would it be appropriate or inappropriate for the referee (after ejecting the fan) to explain, with both coaches present, that outside of the US a goal would awarded but that inside the US, I have no choice, the correct result is no goal but a drop ball at the 6yd line - AND THEN - turn to the defensive coach and say "You, however, have a choice. You can direct your team to contest the drop ball thereby rewarding the unsporting and unethical behaiver of your fan, or you can direct your team to stand aside on the drop ball allowing the other team to score and put both teams in the same position they would have been in without the unsporting and unethical behaiver of your fan." ?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Whoa, ejecting fans? IN any incident where an outside entity (in this case a fan) enters the FOP during active play and interferes in said play we are to stop the match , ensure the removal of the reason (the fan)and restart with a drop ball.

If there is no safe way to ensure this action is not repeated or the fan refuses to leave a referee could tell the coaching staff LOOK if this guy stays I go home! The coaching staff could request the fan leave. IF there WAS security or call the local law enforcement agency for removal of a public nuisance. That said the ethical decisions a team might wish to follow are not usually at the request of a referee.

You are implying that if one team caught a break from a supporter who managed to get play stopped before a sure goal was
scored by the opposition that team in good conscience SHOULD sit back and allow the dropball restart to go uncontested so that the opposing team might get that goal ?

Well they COULD choose to do so but a referee's responsibility is not to lecture a team on which tactics to perform. Still in my opinion a referee could imply that as an option without telling the team directly what they SHOULD do!

"Blue team I stopped play before the ball entered the goal. This drop ball is a result of the fan interference. The ball was inside the goal area about to cross the goalline but I reacted to the fan as a threat to the match and stopped play before it did, preventing a RED scoring opportunity. While my decision was forced it is your choice how to proceed from this point. Are there any questions?"

I am also puzzled at the everywhere else but US the dropball would not be given? If a fan enters the FOP the SAFETY of the players is the PRIMARY concern of any referee and if it is not THAT referee has NO business officiating. Once a referee decides play MUST stop, play IS stopped. If the ball was going into the goal it is a rotten break but it is NOT the doing of the referee. A goal is great but if that fan was attacking a player the goal is not worthy of consideration. Now if simply a guy who stepped into the field and a ball is rolling into the goal AS referee we COULD choose to let the ball finish its roll to goal before stopping play, HOWEVER, that decision rests with the official and his perception of the event as it unfolds in real time.

In a scrub match I suppose a referee could sell the goal and restart kick off in this situation of a ball entering the goal just prior as the whistle sounded because of the goof entering the FOP but it is not a lawful goal even if it feels like a fair thing to do!.
If this was a pro match or a televised match the TECHNICAL points of law are NOT easily cast aside!
Cheers