Question Number: 30624

Law 2 - The Ball 7/20/2016

RE: Competive Adult

Cindy Verne of Placentia, CA usa asks...

I a ball from another field comes on the field and interfers with play and the ref stops the game. How should the ball be put back in play

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Cindy
When a ball from another field interferes with play the referee stops play and restarts with a dropped ball from where the ball was when play was stopped.
Older referee will recall that the entry of a ball on to the field of play was generally a reason to stop play. Over the years only interference became a reason to stop.
As Referee Grove points out this has been amended from June 1 where interference occurs on a ball destined for the goal but does not stop the ball entering the goal the interference can be ignored and the goal awarded.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Cindy, whether the ball comes from another field or not (for instance, if it is an additional ball associated with the game on the current field) the referee treats it in the same manner. The Laws of the Game tell us that:

'if [...] an extra ball, other object or animal enters the field of play during the match, the referee must: stop play (and restart with a dropped ball) ...'

Please note however, that the referee should do this 'only if it interferes with play.' By contrast, the ref should 'allow play to continue if it does not interfere with play and have it removed at the earliest possible opportunity'

Finally though, under the new edition of the Laws there is a caveat to all this, as follows:

'unless the ball is going into the goal and the interference does not prevent a defending player playing the ball, the goal is awarded if the ball enters the goal (even if contact was made with the ball) unless the ball enters the opponents' goal'