Question Number: 23766

League Specific 8/12/2010

RE: Competive Professional

Jean of Raleigh, NC USA asks...

On a perfect summer evening and on a perfectly lighted field for a cup game, the game is tied after regulation. After O.T ; 2 full 15 min periods; the score remains unchanged. After having done the coin flip to see which team will shoot first from the penalty mark; the lights went off !!!!
What's FIFA rule on the outcome of the game?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

FIFA says: The game is abandoned. In the absence of any league rule, you replay the game.

Ugh. Hopefully your league rules have another alternative.

I'd certainly wait around a good long time to see if the lights could be restored before abandoning the game.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jean
If the lights are not restored relatively quickly the match is abandoned and the competition organisers decide what the outcome should be. Normally it would be a replay.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Jean, we are just referees. We don't worry too much what the outcome of the game is. As far as we are concerned the outcome is that it was too dark to play and the score was still tied. We leave it up to those guys, who are charged with deciding who won and that would be league official. Professional games are basically show business and the referee is about the last person who would be asked to decide the outcome. We just make the game so it is played fairly.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Wait 15 minutes.If the lights remain off abandon the game. Write a complete and detailed report. Forward it to proper authorities, they will decide how to proceed