Question Number: 32737

League Specific 9/23/2018

john sadler of Combe, Witney, Oxfordshire United Kingdom asks...

in a fa cup tie yesterday, the home team had used all its 3 subs allowed. their goalkeeper had a very nasty injury, after 20mins stoppage the player was taken away by ambulance. now down to 10 men the team said they were too upset to carry on with 20mins left.

the ref abandoned the game and awarded a replay back at the home teams ground.??

surely this should have been awarded to the away team as the home team refused to carry on with 10 players. This is the FA cup.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
The referee just abandoned the game. He has not made any other decision and it is up to the FA to decide the outcome of the game. This is what the FA rules state
** When a first match has been postponed, or is abandoned before the completion of 90 minutes and neither Club being at fault, it shall be played on the same ground: in the Qualifying Competition – on or before the following Thursday;
in the Competition Proper – as directed by The FA.
(ii) If the match be drawn or again postponed or abandoned it shall be played as directed by The FA.
(iii) Matches abandoned through the fault of the Clubs shall be dealt with by the Professional Game Board.**
The referee will submit his report which will outline his views on the incident and leave it to the FA Board to decide. A team that is not willing to continue in a game is likely to forfeit. However circumstances will dictate what the FA will decide.
At lower levels of the game it is not unusual for games to be abandoned when there is a horrific injury with players upset perhaps with a lengthy stoppage for an ambulance to arrive etc.
I hope that the goalkeepers injury is not so serious and that he makes a speedy recovery.