Question Number: 32313

Law 5 - The Referee 3/16/2018

RE: Pro Adult

Har Rymam of Athens, Attica Greece asks...

This question is a follow up to question 32310

Hello

First of all thank you for the time to answer my question.
Please don't misunderstand me, the events were shameful, and a disgrace for Greek football.

I would like to reiterate, the question I originally asked.
Please do not reply with what was on the game report, I would like an answer based on your expertise, so please bear with me.

Is the referee allowed to change his opinion in the locker room and allow a goal, which on the pitch he called offside?

It is a very clear question, I am not asking for interpretations, or research on your part, just to answer the question
Apologies for insisting.
Thank you in advance for your replies.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Har,
sorry I thought it was clear NO!

Quote from last answer
The referee can not alter decisions after seeing video nor can he alter a decision after abandoning the match, his decision must occur on the FOP before a restart
end quote
Once he abandons the match he can not undo anything.
What WE DO NOT KNOW is was anything decided on the pitch BEFORE he abandoned but after he visibly demonstrated the offside INDFK? Perhaps he said something on the radio or video recorder that will exonerate that possibility but no problem for insisting on a YES or NO answer I agree with you once the match is abandoned NO changes possible! The thing I was stressing is since there was no restart there was no FINALIZED decision that we are AWARE of before the abandonment except as you indicated the arm was raised as a signal which we all assume was for offside INDFK. .
We enjoyed your input and good on you for keeping us on task!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
In one answer I stated ** It is certainly not allowed under the Law to change his mind after a game has been abandoned having left the FOP and certainly not based on video evidence.**
Anyway let me quote Law 5 from the current law book
** The referee may not change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or on the advice of another match official if play has restarted or the referee has signalled the end of the first or second half (including extra time) and left the field of play or terminated the match.**
So we know play has not restarted and we know the referee terminated the game.
The only comment which I posed in other answers, which seems to be contradicted by media reports, was that the goal was awarded, the referee can be then seen to award an IDFK for offside after review and then we have no idea what happened after that?
As play has not restarted and the period of time between the IDFK signal and termination could the referee have changed his mind again? There is no possibility of changing his offside decision by video review after the game was terminated which is being report in the media.
That is why the official investigation and report is vital