Question Number: 25936

Law 5 - The Referee 1/30/2012

RE: Other

Peter Grove of Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire England asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25920

Not a question, just offering some additional info.

When the referee's duties were enumerated in the IFAB minutes of 1889, the IFAB stated that the referee shall 'keep a record of the game and act as timekeeper.'

So you could say that by implication, since he was acting as timekeeper, the referee was entitled to make adjustments to the time played.

The first explicit mention I can find of additional time being allowed is in the LotG, 1903 edition where it is stated, 'The Referee shall have power to allow for time wasted, to suspend the game when he thinks fit, and to terminate the game whenever, by reason of darkness, interference by spectators, or other cause, he may deem necessary.'

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
Many thanks for your contribution on this which is helpful. It is always interesting to read the history of the Laws which gives an insight into the current playing of the game.