Question Number: 24093

Mechanics 10/5/2010

RE: Competive Under 19

Bill Thorrington of Perkasie, PA USA asks...

As the center, I could not see if the whole of the ball crossed the goal line for a goal, so I looked at the AR and he was just standing doing nothing, so I let play go on. At the next stoppage of play around 3 to 4 minutes later a player said to me the AR told them the ball was over the line. I asked him why he didn't let me know and he said he didn't know what to do. I awarded a goal. Was this the right thing to do?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Better mechanics and a good pregame should have kept this from happening in the first place. If the AR looked confused, or even if he didn't, it would have been okay to go ask what he saw - especially if he is just standing still. I always go over responsibilities in the pregame, and ask questions. One of those concerns if the AR is sure the ball has entered the goal, what should happen next, so we would have cleared up what he was supposed to do in such situations. We cover many other things as well - and this is an example of why it is so important.

As for whether awarding the goal was the right thing to do depends on whether play had simply continued (for much too long of a time) or if play had restarted, which is not clear to me from the post. If play had continued with no stoppage, you could award the goal. But if that wasn't the case, and play had stopped and restarted before you received the info from the AR, all you can do is keep going, and note the mistake in your game report. It would be up to the league at that point to decide what to do.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Can the referee award the goal based on the information from the assistant referee the next time the ball goes out of play and before play restarts. Yes. The referee is permitted to change a decision based on information from the assistant referee unless play has been restarted. So, under the laws, you had the right to accept the information from the AR and award the goal. After so much time, however, awarding a goal is not a decision that the players will find credible, and can lead to a serious loss of match control.

Your AR failed to follow the USSF guide to procedures which details exactly how the AR indicates a goal. You may have avoided the problem, however, by discussing in your pregame what the AR should do in this situation. The AR put you in a bad place, and you ought to discuss what happened with your assignor.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Bill
Under the Laws of the game the referee is entitled to make this decision as play has not restarted and he has received additional information from an assistant referee.
Is it the 'best' decision to make in the circumstances then only the referee can make that call based on all the circumstances on the day. Certainly players will not find the decision 'credible' after such a length of play particularly when they expect the AR to signal for a goal immediately.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

3 or 4 minutes is way too long but if play had not stopped and restarted you could within Law award the goal. But this should never have happened. You must have a pregame especially with young referees and tell them what you expect. The AR should have known the proper signal for a goal being scored and he also should have been told by you if something major like a goal is scored and you miss it, even if the AR forgets the proper mechanics, he is to get your attention any way he can and as soon as possible. This includes running onto the field and screaming at you if he must

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