Question Number: 29981

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 12/9/2015

RE: Adult

Euan Mclean of Yellowknife, NT Canada asks...

Hi Mr. Ref, this may sound like a silly question but I am just looking for confirmation. If the ball appears to cross the line and the official does not indicate by pointing to centre, allows play to continue and seconds later blows for full time is it a good goal? He verbally indicated to the attacking team that the goal was good after blowing for full time but did not indicate that a goal was scored, nor did he advise the defending team that a goal had been scored. He entered the goal to the league.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Euan
Did the referee blow to award the goal and then end the game immediately? Certainly there should be little doubt that a goal has been scored and awarded so the referees mechanics here would be highly questionable.
If the referee declared that it was a goal then that happened before the game was ended so the goal was good.
Now you do not mention if it was a winning goal or just *another* goal. I suspect it was the latter. Perhaps the referee was being coy here by awarding a goal that had no impact on the game and in the manner that he did so caused no rancour with the defending team as they simply did not know. No debate then about whether the ball fully crossed the line or not. I can assure you this that had the goal been to win the game it could not be fudged nor should it be at any time.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Euan,
no such thing as a silly question, unless it goes unasked.
Looks like some ugly mechanics are at work here?
If while the ball was in play on the field of play, said ball COMPLETELY crossed the goal line under the crossbar between the posts. The team that benefitted had not infringed upon the LOTG, then that is a good goal and the WHISTLE could sound to stop play especially if it was not readily clear the goal occurred as in seeing it inside the netted area bulging the old onion skin! To not whistle for sometime after is weird? Perhaps he received additional late information from an AR that the ball did in fact enter the goal and ended the match then and there? If this was the last few seconds and he is confirming that a goal was scored, certainly no gold star for the way in which he did so to be sure! It is customary to whistle a goal and award a kick off if it is at all unclear the ball did enter the goal. The AR should have raised a flag if he saw the goal and if he was unseen, kept it raised as he runs along the touchline following further play.

All I can say seems fishy but hopefully it is only the mechanics that are fault.

Decisions of the referee
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including
whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.
The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his
discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided
that he has not restarted play or terminated the match.
Cheers