Question Number: 32362

Character, Attitude and Control 4/12/2018

RE: Adult

Zach Beo of Istanbul, Turkey asks...

Hello,

If a game is suspended due to a fan invasion, and the referee and his assistants have ordered the teams to go to the locker rooms, what is the process to restart the game, if such a formal process exists?

Meaning, does the ref ask for team reps and inform them the game is to restart, does he blow his whistle etc

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Zach
I suspect once the referee has stated he is actually abandoning or terminating the match it is over The matter is now in the hands of the association or League disciplinary committee to decide how to proceed.

If the referee has decided to say cooperate with the security forces and simply sent the teams to the locker rooms for safety until the miscreants or trouble was removed . He could temporarily hold things up then restart the match the way it was temporally halted. If say the ball went out for corner and fan threw himself and dragged a flare on the field as the start of why the halt began then we restart with the corner. If say play was ongoing and the same thing occurred forcing the referee to stop play then a drop ball where the ball was at the time of the stoppage. The whistle is not mandatory to restart but could be used on the corner or goal kick or throw in not needed for the drop ball. The fact it was a drop ball one could choose to give it back as a matter of fair play but that would be their choice not the referees.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Zach
At the highest level the referee will communicate with the match delegate appointed by the competition organiser, the police chief in charge of the game, the head of security and the two teams.
If the referee Is satisfied that the game can restart with no safety concerns he will inform both teams of the decision and the game will be restarted in line with the way the game was ended. If it was say ended on a throw in, goal kick, free kick or whatever that is the way the game will recommence. The referee will restart with a whistle when both teams are in place and ready to commence play.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Zach,
There is nothing in the Laws of the Game related to this. I suppose there might possibly be something in the rules of competition (ROC) but I personally have not come across a formally described process for this kind of unusual scenario.

It would probably be handled in the way ref McHugh describes.