Question Number: 29628

Law 7 - Match Duration 8/24/2015

RE: Adult

dhon lazo of cagayan de oro city, Philippines asks...

If the game was stop due to unplayable venue because it is already dark and no lights available. The remaining time is 16 minutes in the second half. One team already score advantage of 1 against the opposing team. According to the technical director,FIFA rule will be applied to this particular tournament. Since both team agreed to continue the game on the next day, Does this means the game will be reset back from the start and the score will be reset also back to zero all?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Dhon
The Laws of the Game makes no provision for this. It is entirely a matter for the competition rules.
Some competition rules can specify a full replay while others can state that the remaining time is finished out.
In the absence of a competition rule an abandoned game is replayed in full.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Dhon,
hmm interesting dilemma. The referee has no say in this. The league committee will set the parameters as they see fit. I find it odd to start a match with no chance to finish but no odder than to hold over the remaining play time?
FIFA quote
LAW 7 – THE DURATION OF THE MATCH
Periods of play
The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually
agreed between the referee and the two teams. Any agreement to alter the
duration of the periods of play (e.g. to reduce each half to 40 minutes because
of insufficient light) must be made before the start of play and must comply
with competition rules.

Abandoned match
An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules provide
otherwise.
end Quote

So do your competition rules say otherwise?

I recall a European woman's match was restarted as of an incorrectly taken PK near the match end instead of or rather than replay the whole match so you might get a 16 minute session to finish up rather than a complete do over

Quote
After England Women U19s' match against Norway on Saturday 4 April, The FA lodged an appeal to UEFA following a disallowed penalty.

Due to an incorrect application of the game's laws by the match referee, UEFA have ordered the match to be replayed from the point of the penalty.
end quote

So there is precedent to play a portion of a match.

Let us know the outcome!
Cheers