Question Number: 32409

Law 5 - The Referee 4/29/2018

RE: Intermediate Under 14

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

I have a question about the match between Real Madrid vs. Leganes. I don't have the complete video, but roughly at 44:43 into the game, Mayoral, for Madrid, scores their 2nd goal. It can be seen in the highlights at 1:25 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elBLuVA-edI. The AR called offside, the goal was disallowed, & play restarted. Apparently, the referee continued to communicate with the AR & overruled him. Mayoral was onside when the ball was kicked & the AR seemed to think that the ball was deflected by a Madrid player when Mayoral was offside. However, the ball was deflected off a Leganes player, so offside didn't reset.

Law 5 says: '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...' How was the referee able to change the decision & award the goal? (The only thing I can think of is that Leganes restarted & the referee somehow indicated that they should wait.)

Thanks again!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
The videos I have seen do not show the complete incident
First off it could not be offside as the scorer was in an onside position when the ball was kicked and the subsequent touch was by a Lehanes player.
Now the game cannot restart until the referee is ready and a quick restart does not nullify that. The conceding team hoped for an IDFK so the referee decided that he was not ready to restart as he was still communicating with his AR. Changing a decision does no apply as play has not restarted WITH the referees permission. Had he allowed the IDFK restart the referee could not go back and change his mind.
Always remember that it is up to the referee to decide / allow the restart not the teams decision.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Phil,
Based on the replays that I have seen, the referee did not award an indirect free kick for offside to Leganes, they just went ahead and acted as if a free kick had been given. The referee does not at first, indicate what the decision is (he appears to be in conversation with the AR over the comms system) which makes things a little unclear for the players - and the commentators. The first indication that the referee gives of anything, as far as I can see, is after a few seconds when he signals to award the goal.

So it appears to me that the referee did not change a decision as he had not made one, before awarding the goal. The fact that the Leganes players tried to act as if a free kick had been given, does not make it so.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

H Phil,

The fact was the referee had not indicated the restart. The team hoped it was an INDFK they hoped incorrectly and the kick off was indeed the correct restart after awarding the goal!
Cheers