Question Number: 32037

League Specific 11/19/2017

RE: Adult

richard of Sheffield, england asks...

My daughter played a cup game today and were winning 3-2. After 70 mins a player got injured from the opposing team, we waited about 1 hour before the ref abandoned the game
As the injured player was still on the pitch waiting for ambulance due to a leg injury. What is the ruling on the match?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Richard
Sorry to hear about the injury and for a player having to be on the field of play for an hour waiting for an ambulance.
Anyway it is a matter for the competition organisers to decide based on its competition rules and the referees report. I would suggest that it could result in a replay or if the competition rules state that if sufficient time had already been played then the result could stand. Another option at lower levels of the game is that the remaining minutes might be played out again if the rules allow for that. A panel will make the decision.
Generally no fault abandonments result in a replay. If a team deliberately caused an abandonment then it would not profit by a replay. In addition if there is no competition rule covering this the FIFA default position is a replay.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Richard,
Each competition will have different rulings on this sort of thing - you might be lucky enough to find yours online. Whether the result stands will typically depend on how much of the match has been completed (but that minimum requirement varies for competitions). There may also be some room for a 'case by case' decision under extenuating circumstances. If not, typical options are either to reschedule the entire match, or reschedule the remaining portion. The latter would be the least likely, I'd think.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Richard,
The Laws of the Game say that:

''An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules or organisers determine otherwise.''

Almost all competitions have provisions on what procedures should be followed when a game is abandoned so in the end, the ruling is whatever the competition rules or organisers say it should be. Sometimes these rules will provide a clear indication of what will happen, sometimes it may require a decision from a committee of some sort.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Richard,
It is distressing the injury on the pitch took so long to be remedied?
Our prayers for the unfortunate player.
The LOTG state that an abandon match is replayed unless the competition rules or organisers state otherwise.
It is not something a referee decides.
I have seen in my years associated with football abandoned & or terminated
Matches replayed,
Matches accepted as a result despite full time not achieved
Matches resumed at the time it stopped.
Match winners declared as a forfeit due to how a team at fault caused the abandonment no matter the score!
So you tell us what did they do?
Cheers