Question Number: 25676

Law 5 - The Referee 10/28/2011

RE: Rec,Competetive Under 15

Brian of Kinnelon, NJ USA asks...

This happened to me in a rec game this week.

There was a scramble in the box, I thought I saw an attacking player tripped and go down.

I blew the whistle and pointed to the penalty spot. The defending team starts protesting that that there was no contact.

The attacking player who I thought was fouled then approached me and said 'They're right, nobody touched me, I tripped over my own foot'.

Now what? I obviously goofed, but can I change the restart to a dropped ball after I pointed to the mark? I know a restart should never be changed, but in the interest of fairness should it have instead been changed to a dropped ball?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A decision of the referee can be changed if the referee receives information from an assistant referee or fourth official. The change must happen before a restart takes place.

However, the referee begins to tread down a slippery slope if he bases a change on information from the players. Maybe they're telling you the truth this time, but do you know for sure? And if you believe them now, should you believe them later when they claim they certainly didn't commit any foul? Anything older than U-Littles, you could find yourself in a situation later on.

Stick with what you saw. If the attacker says that he didn't get touched, then you can suggest that he doesn't have to try to score from the PK.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
Always a difficult one for the referee. Such honesty from players is rare so it is not something that comes up too often.
Clearly the circumstances need to be taken into account. If the referee decides to accept the player's information and play has not restarted then the restart is a dropped ball from where the ball was when play was stopped.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You can change any restart as long as you haven't restarted play. Such honesty on the part of the players should be rewarded in my opinion. I would give the dropped ball.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If you make a mistake, and you're sure it was a mistake, then by all means correct it. One assumes this does not happen but once or twice in any game, of course!

Having made a decision, and changed your mind based on information from either neutral parties (preferred), or admissions against interest from players (rare, but usually reliable), you can hold up the restart and reset things. In this case, you would tell the players it was an inadvertent and incorrect whistle, 'Apologies, guys! We'll restart with a dropped ball here (here being wherever the ball was when you blew the whistle originally, unless it was in the goal area).' Be sure you allow both teams to reset themselves so nobody is unfairly disadvantaged when the ball is dropped.

I personally would be loathe to give a PK in such circumstances, but it takes some courage to admit mistakes, correct them and not lose the trust of the players. Complaints about throw-ins or even corner kicks or goal kicks are not as big a deal, but to give a PK when neither side thinks it is warranted doesn't do much for the referee.