Question Number: 26912

Law 7 - Match Duration 10/17/2012

RE: Other

Tom of Marion, Il USA asks...

A team scored with 5 seconds remaining. While setting up for kickoff the time runs out. The referee had the kids restart play then as soon as ball was touched/in motion blew the whistle to end the game. Why? Why not just end game while the kids were walking back for kickoff?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Most referees will add time for delays after the scoring of a goal, injury, excessive substitutions. So, while the referee could decide that time expired while the team were setting up for the kickoff, it is uncommon.

Under high school rules, the clock stops when a goal is scored. So unless the goal was scored at the exact last second, the kickoff must take place. In other situations, letting the match restarts also preempts the complaint that the referee should have ended the match a few seconds earlier - - - immediately before the goal was scored.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

I've found that if I blow the whistle for full time just after a goal is scored, then people sometimes complain that I was just waiting for that team to score. Waiting until a few moments after the kickoff seems to reduce these complaints - also, while this has no basis in laws, often referees will (and players expect) wait until the ball is put into play before blowing for full time - we often see it with goal kicks, throw ins etc.

So sometimes it can cause fewer problems by waiting that extra few moments for the kickoff, and there's no real downside to it (in most situations).

Of course, sometimes time genuinely runs out a few seconds after the kickoff!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tom
There can be a number of reasons for this
1. There is still time left in the game.
2. Some referees use a countdown watch which when it reaches zero the game ends no matter where play is at. Until that point when the buzzer sounds these referee continue with play.
3. The kick off procedure allows an assistant time to bring to the referee's attention an infringement by the attacking team committed before the goal was scored. If the referee ends the game just after the goal no decision can then be changed.
4. Some referees believe that in certain games that it separates players and/or reduces excessive celebrations plus players then know without doubt that the whistle is to end the game
5. Some referees do not like to blow up after a goal as Referee Wright states some believe that the referee has waited until the goal was scored and that he could have as easily have blown up seconds earlier.
I saw a FIFA WC game last season and the referee ended the game just after a kick off. I believe he did that for No 3 above as that gives the referee time not to rush into ending the game and then having a major problem if an AR or the 4th Official has a problem which the referee has missed.
At Underage, unless its the rule, there is little point in doing this yet it also is not a big deal. The disappointment of conceding a last second goal is the real issue not the referee's allowing a kick off.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Excellent question. Why not indeed? When all time has expired and all added time is used up, the game should end. The habit referees have gotten into of not allowing play to end until the ball is in play, does not make sense to me.

What if a goal had been scored directly from the kick-off? Does the referee now give the other team a kick-off?

Soccer is supposed to be about fair play. How is it fair to the defending team when a referee, knowing ALL TIME has expired, allows the attackers 30-40 seconds to mount an attack?