Question Number: 28385

League Specific 4/30/2014

RE: Competitive amateur adult Adult

Rob Morrison of Concord, MA USA asks...

What powers do local 'Competition Committees' or 'Appeals Committees' have when rectifying a misapplication of the Laws of the Game? I don't see any guidelines in the LOTG about how a problem is resolved. Here is the real case we recently faced: In added time in a 0-0 mens over-40 game, the referee awarded a PK. The PK was converted, but an attacking player encroached. The referee errantly awarded a goal kick and and ended the game after the goal kick was taken. Clearly the referee misapplied the LOTG 14. The team taking the PK appealed and I heard the case. I ruled that since the PK had not been completed, and since a game can not end in the middle of a restart, the game should be finished with the PK retaken. The game would then conclude on the next natural stoppage.

I have a ref on my board who says the entire game must be replayed due to the misapplication of the Law of the Game. That seem ridiculous since the appealing party could lose the replayed game. What is fair is that the appealing team gets to retake the PK when these two teams meet again. As we all know, what is fair, and what the rules are is not always the same. While a replay of a game may be the most common resolution of an appeal, I see nothing that says this is the only solution a local body can impose to resolve a successful appeal. There must be a spirit of what is equitable and just.

Any guidance out there?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rob
Competition matters are not part of the Laws of the Game but solely a matter for the competition organisers in line with its competition rules. Where competition rules do not set out the remedy then the best advise is to take the advice of the governing body or if that does not clarify it then FIFA competition rules.
Here is a decision arrived at by FIFA in this type of situation
http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/03/17/12/04/know-the-laws-penalty-kick

Typically in competition rules there is usually a finite set of remedies in the case of a protest:
1. Deny the protest, the result stands.
2. Replay the game from the point of the match where the error occurred.
3. Replay the match in its entirety.
4. Award the match to one team.

Traditionally 2 is uncommon as bringing two teams together plus match officials +fees, set up a field of play, get players fully kitted to say play a few minutes or take a penalty kick just does not happen very often. Remedy 4 is usually used when the cause of a game abandonment rests with one team. Remedy 3 is the most common and one that most would expect which no doubt includes your referee board member
Remember as well that the game had ended with a result of 0-0 so option 3 may be acceptable to the appealing team as they get to overturn the result and get another go. Other factors to be considered in a penalty kick only solution will be
1. The attitude of the teams and officials to this and would it be taken seriously. There cannot be a shortcut solution and it must be set up as a full game scenario with at least 14 player and a referee.
2. The distance to be travelled by everyone to do this.
3. The costs associated with this.
4. The penalty can be missed.
5. The decision can be appealed which can take time and money to resolve.
If it is connected to a future game when the teams meet again does that cause a problem for match control and discipline.
Finally I agree that there must be a spirit of what is equitable and just. That though must apply to both teams equally and the opponents did not cause the situation. It is now not possible to recreate the conditions found at that time which included fatigue, emotion, pressure, no kicking practise etc. The fresh kicker can practise 100 penalty kicks before the one penalty which can be considered unfair to the opponents. My advice always is allow the decision to be made on the field of play in a game. Personally I believe the fairest and expected solution is a replay in full.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The league has complete discretion what to do - including, (a) nothing, result stands notwithstanding the clear error; (b) replay the entire match; (c) retake the pk. Professionals/internationals have more resources than amateur leagues for the expense of replaying the entire match, but that would likely be the result at the highest levels.