Question Number: 15767

Mechanics 6/12/2007

RE: Competitive Adult

Ryan of Flower Mound, Texas U.S.A. asks...

Dear Referee Panel,

I have a question regarding match length in games that are clearly one sided. I had a recent U-19 Competitive game where one team was winning 11-1. During the second half, the coach of the losing team approached me on the line and asked about shorting the half. I told him to speak with the opposing coach and they agreed to shorten the second half. The referee was informed and we played a shortened second half. The losing team only had nine players and forcing them to play continuously in the Texas heat for 90 minutes wasn't going to change the result of the match. So I must ask, is there any policy on shortening matches that are heavily one sided? Is there a mercy rule and if not are there any plans for one to be implemented in the future? I see televised World Cup qualification matches all the time where one team is clearly out matched.

The US Advice to Referees says the referee cannot arbitrarily shorten or lengthen halves, but it seems to me if the coaches agree it can't be against the spirit of the game. US high school soccer allows coaches to shorten the game before the start. Do you all have any comments on this?

Thanks for the wisdom.

Ryan

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

This is covered by Law 18 "common sense". Most youth leagues have a limit to the "goal differential" that a team may accumulate when winning a match to prevent outlandish blow outs like an 11-1 score line. Still, even if there were no limit on goal differential, given that both coaches agreed to end the match early, they obviously aren't too concerened with goal differential.

If both teams want to end it early, particularly on a HOT day when the result is not in doubt, shortening the game early seems like a prudent and intellegent thing to do. It's their game and if they want to call it a day early, why not let them?

Technically speaking though, the laws of the game do not permit this action. The game must be played in 2 equal periods, so if the first half was 45 minutes long, the second half must be the same.

However, using common sense we could easily overlook this fact and end the game early for the safety of the players. And why not? You get the same pay and you get to go have your post game early!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I have approached the loosing captain and put it to him. A simple "let me know when you guys have had enough fun" usually gets the point across. If he says "right now" my watch just failed and the match is over. If he says "a little longer" or "play to the end" his word speaks for me and his team. If that's common sense, then I have some...

Regards,