Question Number: 26665

Law 7 - Match Duration 8/21/2012

RE: rec

rob deconinck of st. petersburg , fl pinellas asks...

I saw this question on a recertification exam., again: A corner kick has been awarded and the half ends. What should the referee do? I believe the referee should award the kick, but unless I am wrong, the 'correct ' answer (on the test) was to end the half.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Time is up when time is up.

The only restart for which time is extended is the penalty kick.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rob
When time has fully elapsed the game is ended by the referee. Thats what the questions asks.
During a game the referee's allowance for time lost may allow him some flexibility as he could add on say 3 minutes 10 seconds instead of 3 minutes exactly.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It's a trick question.

There is no requirement that the ball be in play for the referee to end the half or match. That is a common myth.

Few referees decide to end the d/half match when the ball is out of play, perhaps because they don't want to go chase the ball. So, most decide not to end the match until the ball is back in play. IMO, that is very dangerous. A goal can be scored on a corner kick, and there are few things worse than blowing the whistle and watching the ball continue into the back of the net.

But, the question says that the half has ended. If the half is ended, it's over. Do not let the match restart until the second half kickoff. (Only, exception, as Ref Voshol notes, is if time is extended to complete a penalty kick).

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 26679