Question Number: 14606

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 12/18/2006

RE: Weekend Adult

Guido of london, london great britain asks...

My team scored a goal and some of the players celebrated. Whilst this was happening the ball was returned to the centre circle for the restart. The referee allowed the opposition to take the kick-off although all my teammates were not back in our half. Was the referee correct in allowing this?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

No he was not. The referee should have considered cautioning your teammates for delaying the restart of play. Most likely he was trying to punish your team and make a point by doing this. This is NOT correct by the referee.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Guido,
as my colleague Ref Mueller has stated the referee is incorrect in his assumption that he can use his discretionary powers to alter the laws just because he wanted to make a point! The restart must have both teams within the confines of their half or at least no opponents in your half and at least 7 opponents including the keeper in the other!
Celebration after a goal should be allowed provided it is not drawn out, ostentatious or without reasonable decorum. If a referee's opinion found it too long or too gaudy the correct action would be to warn verbally to get on with it or caution and show a yellow card to the one(s) not prepared to return to active play or performing any acts of usb misconduct such as shirt removal, taunting etc...

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Ref Dawson makes a good point, the referee need not wait for the celebrating players to return to the field, as long as the keeper and six others are there. They chose their celebration rather than to continue with the match. AND if they return to the field after play has started without the referee's permission...

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 14622