Question Number: 24020

Law 5 - The Referee 9/26/2010

RE: select Under 13

Jerry of Fort Gratiot, mi us asks...

A player scores right before halftime. After kickoff and play resumed a sideline judge confers with the ref. The ref then blows his whistle and says sorry halftime was supposed to be 15 SECONDS ago goal does not count. Can this be allowed? Should the ref recieve a red card from his sanctioning body? The coach argued and was given a 1st warning. In the middle of the second half a sideline judge called offside. The coach courteously said to the ref 'you're allowed to overrule'. The ref immediately issued a red card. That was the final reg game of the tournament of which the opposing team was host. The carded team won the game and will be without the coach at the championship

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jerry
Once play has restarted a decision can not be rescinded. So if the kick off was taken and play continued for 15 seconds then the goal should have counted. The only exception is in the case of an unseen assistant referee signal for violent conduct where if play has restarted the referee can go back. Also the referee is the sole judge of time and it is not a matter for the AR.
As regards the dismissal of the coach the decision regarding any suspension is a matter for the disciplnary body taking in to account the referee's report. That decision I assume can be appealed

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Jerry, referees do not get 'red cards', they show them to people.
Once play has been started or after the final whistle, a previous goal cannot be retroactively taken back. It would like removing the milk from a cup of coffee - not possible. If what you describe happened, the goal must stand. The ref erred in disallowing a goal AFTER he restarted play. It would an easy decision for an appeals committee.
As far as who said what and how is up to the referee's report and a committee from the league. They have to sort that out. It would be silly to comment on something where I do not have all the facts.