Question Number: 23751

League Specific 8/8/2010

RE: Competitive Adult

Ronny Ah-Tive of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 23686

In the fixture for last weekend, the kick-off time was stipulated for 3:00 pm. The match, however, did not kick-off until 3:30 pm because the opposition were having problems putting a team together and as they were the home team, we did not get the match card until 5 minutes before kick-off. The frustating thing is that at no pint in time did the opposing team consult with us to let us know what was happening.

Base on FIFA Guidlines, what is the time limit prior to kick-off for a side to field a team and present the Away Side with the match card. How long after the kick-off time is the game an automatic forfeited?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

This isn't an issue for FIFA guidelines; rather, your competition regulations will stipulate what is to happen regarding the match card and delayed kickoffs. However, I know that some competitions also take a very relaxed approach to some of their own regulations.

If you are concerned, I would advise speaking to your club contact who should have access to the competition regulations, and can decide whether to pursue the matter through your local competition authority.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ronny
This would be covered in the League Competition Rules as set out by the competition organisers. In the Leagues that I am involved in a delayed start results in a fine and some games that do not start within a defined period are abandoned and the matter referrred to the League. You should check this with your local competition authority as it is, I suspect, covered by a local rule.
On the face of it 30 minutes would not be a lengthy delay as I have waited for almost an hour on some starts. What should have happened though is that there should have been better communication between the teams and ultimately it is your game. The referee could have anticipated that the game was going to go ahead and arranged for the match card to be filled out by yourselves without delaying until 5 minutes before KO.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

In the youth leagues I do, we give teams 10 minutes to arrive beyond game time. Sometimes teams come from a distance and there is road construction or an accident that delays them; the first arriving member has been in phone contact with those stuck behind and we will accomodate the lateness if possible. But there may be another game scheduled at the field, or one or more of the referees has another appointment. In that case we will either play a shortened game or not play at all.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

These types of regulations vary from place to place. My local League gives 15 minutes. I have worked tournaments where anywhere from 5-30 minutes are allowed

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Ronny, a referee is asked to follow the rules of the competition and is trained to follow FIFA laws. Sometimes rules will say how long a ref is to wait but this may be left up to the referee's judgement.
What the referee is NOT asked to do decide is whether the game is forfeited. This is up to the association. So you see this becomes an administrative problem, not a referee question.
In my experience I use a 15 minute grace period, inform the players that if they cannot field enough players by that time I am going home. However I have allowed more time on occasion. On one occasion nobody brought a soccer ball! It took 30 minutes to finally borrow one from a local...