Question Number: 30579

Law 7 - Match Duration 7/6/2016

RE: select College

Joshua of Rochester, New York United States asks...

If a goal was scored at the very last second of play is it required for the referee to have an offical restart even though the referee would blow the whistle once it was restarted. Or should the game just end right after the goal was scored.

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Joshua, In college like in high school the game ends when the clock shows zero time remaining in the second half. If there is time remaining on the clock after a goal is scored, then a kickoff shall be conducted. The college season is rapidly approaching. I hope that you have a very successful season.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Joshua
The answers differ for College, NFHS and FIFA games. Referee Manjone has outlined the College / NFHS games. In FIFA the timing is not so exact and it us left yo the referee as to whether he wishes to restart the game or not. Many do as teams are required to go to their respective halves plus after a restart no decision can be changed. That allows ARs, 4th official time to bring to the attention of the referee any offence before the game us ended.
Most times it makes little difference although regular visitors to the site will note questions about goal decisions in the last seconds of games and the options available to the referee if he has ended the game on the goal.