Question Number: 26722

Law 5 - The Referee 9/5/2012

RE: Competive Adult

Brian Casey of Toronto, ON Canada asks...

After a team scored in a recent game I was playing in, I was waiting for the ref to blow his whistle before I passed the ball forward to restart the game.
The ref asked me what I was waiting for??
I told him 'for the whistle' he replied he didn't have to blow his whistle to restart the game.
Was this ref correct.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

A whistle is not required for most restarts. The team is generally permitted a quick free kick even for fouls. The restarts requiring a whistle are: kickoff; penalty kick; after a substitution; after a caution or sendoff; or when the referee announces that the team must wait for the whistle.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
The advice to referees is that a whistle is is needed to start play (1st, 2nd half), after a goal and in other situations such as a penalty kick, after a caution, injury etc. It is also good practise to do it on all kick offs as it allows the referee to ensure that everything is in order before allowing the restart.
I have allowed teams to kick off after a goal without the whistle as I was satisfied that everything was in order to do so and it would not have helped the game to stop play just to restart it again on the whistle. However if I was not satisfied I would not allow the kick off.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Brian,

The advice to referees written into the laws of the game do state that a whistle is needed to restart play after a goal, so you were correct in waiting for the whistle.

However, I know that some areas tend not to follow this - 'when in Rome, as they say'. I know other times written into the advice are ignored as well.

I'd advise waiting for the whistle, as you do.