Question Number: 30758

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/14/2016

RE: Rec Adult

Steve of Perth, Western Australia Australia asks...

This question is a follow up to question 30751

I am sorry, but I am a bit confused here. You say that if I fail to notice an extra player on the pitch, and a goal is scored by that team (with the extra player involved), I cannot now go back and give a DFK for this. That makes no sense. If, a goal having been scored, my AR points out a prior offside offence, or I am made aware of VC or even a simple foul, I can go back and punish those with a free kick. Why does this not apply to an extra player interfering, which is now a DFK offence?

I fully understand that if the extra player has not interfered with play, following the laws I would go with goal kick or corner. But if the player is involved in scoring the goal (or assisting with a cross perhaps)then so long as I have not restarted the game, what on earth prevents me from disallowing the goal and giving a free kick?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
Simple answer is because of what the Law says and I quote
** If, after a goal is scored, the referee realises, before play restarts, that an extra person(s) was on the field of play when the goal was scored:
•• the referee must disallow the goal if the extra person was:
a player, substitute, substituted player, sent off player or team official of the team that scored the goal
an outside agent who interfered with play unless a goal results as outlined above in 'extra persons on the field of play;
Play is restarted with a goal kick, corner kick or a dropped ball**
In the past I always suggested that the restart should be an IDFK in the goal area after the caution is issued. My colleagues proposed the goal kick as the Law was mute on the restart. The Law is specific now in that it says goal kick, corner kick or dropped ball.
Now in the case of an unseen flag the referee can deal with that as you suggest. However in the case where the goal has been awarded and the referee becomes subsequently aware of the extra player through a count of players or whatever before the resultant kick off then the Law is specific how it wants it dealt with. The extra player could have been on the FOP for minutes with multiple restarts etc.
Anyway it is only an issue if it is an own goal as the corner kick is more favourable to the offending team but there you have it. We dont make the Law we enforce what is written even if we do not agree with it.