Question Number: 26948

Law 5 - The Referee 10/27/2012

RE: semi pro Adult

Ayanna of Manzanilla, Trinidad and tobago asks...

Can a refree blow off a game that has 16 minutes of play + stoppage time? please note this was a finals and the refree got the game out of hand with some wrong calls and bad decisions!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ayanna
Yes the referee has the power to abandon a game. Law 5 gives the referee the power to
'' stops, suspends or abandons the match, at his discretion, for any infringements of the Laws''
The referee then reports the matter to the competition organisers who make a decision as to what should happen to the game.
If the referee felt that the game had got out of control and there was a safety concern for the players then the 'best' decision could be to abandon. That is a brave decision by the referee as no referee likes to admit that he has 'lost control' of the game.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The laws of the game intend that players receive the full time allotted for a match, and provide for added time, in the referee's discretion, to make up for time lost for unusual events.

There are circumstances in which Law 5 permits the referee to suspend or abandon a match early. These include weather, darkness, or if it is unsafe to continue play (including spectator issues or mass confrontations). Most leagues also provide for the match to be abandoned if one team falls below seven players.

If a match is ended early, the referee must include the reasons in the match report.