Question Number: 32780

Law 5 - The Referee 10/6/2018

RE: Competive Adult

Ethan Banaszak of CAMERON PARK, CA USA asks...

During the match, if the ball strikes the referee then goes directly out of bounds without touching any other player, what would be the correct restart?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Ethan,

The referee is like a goalpost. He's a field object. So which player touched it last? That's all you need to think about.

It's always 'keep playing' when it strikes the referee, even if it significantly changes thing, stops a pass, gives possession to the other team, anything. Keep playing. So if the blue team try to send the ball down the line, it strikes the ref, completely changes direction and goes over the touch line, it's still a throw to their opponents.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ethan
The ball striking the referee has no effect on the outcome of the restart. The restart is against the team that touched the ball last before it left the field of play.
Referees do their best to position themselves do that the bell does not hit them. Unfortunately it does happen from time to time and it is just the same as hitting the fame if the gold, corner flag etc.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Ethan,
When it comes to the restart, it makes no difference if the ball touches the referee. The correct restart would depend on which player touched the ball last and which line the ball went out over. If the ball went out over the touchline it would be a throw-in to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball. If the ball went out over the end line (but not inside the frame of the goal) it would be a goal kick if the ball last touched a player of the attacking team and a corner if it last touched a player of the defending team.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Ethan,
Players usually giggle because the referee is a like a dirt clod or a corner post or a goal post as part of the FOP. So the restart if the ball actually goes out of play is based on who last touched it BEFORE that ball struck the referee.
IF blue kicked the ball off the referee and it went inside the red goal under the crossbar between the posts we have a good goal, if it was into the blues' own net we have an own goal. If that ball went off into touch we have a red throw in or over the red goal line a red goal kick or over the blue goal line a red corner kick.
Cheers