Question Number: 35708

Law 3 - The Players 9/19/2024

RE: Adult

Isaac Odame of Accra, Ghana asks...

Can a goal be disallowed after a game when a team sees a video of the opponent having an extra player as at the time the goal was scored?

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

Hi Isaac,
Sorry for the delay. Some technical issues
All answer are below

Hi Isaac
in my opinion, No!
As the sayin goes, It's too late baby!

A video showing such might not be taken seriously by the league or association the match was played under as prima facia evidence but it might highlight the need for better training and understanding.

In most matches, the referee decisions are upheld and the results are final unless there is a clear error in how the LOTG were administered.

As to how a potential protest or a review of ethical behaviour might be considered by the ROC it is likely the score would not be changed or outcome reversed but if there was a successful protest the match is likely replayed or some resolution occurs to designate an outcome of fairness. Usually there is a specific procedure in the bylaws with a time limit and a cost involved to present a protest to the disciplinary committee. The fact a referee missed a call or there was an extra player who participated at the time unless it is caught there and then by neutral parties prior to the kick off, or a restart of play, no change of outcome is going to occur later.
Richard Dawson

Hi Isaac,
As evidenced by the section of the law quoted by my colleague ref McHugh, a goal cannot be disallowed after the game has ended - whether there is video evidence or not.

In fact as the wording of the law also makes clear, it cannot even be ruled out once the game has restarted. So even before the game has ended, there is still no way to go back to go back, assuming play has already restarted after the goal.

About the only redress that might be available - as also mentioned by both my colleagues, is via the competition organisers, to whom the referee must report the incident. These competition authorities could then take a look at the evidence and make a decision based on the rules of competition.
Peter Grove


Hi Isaac
Thanks for the question.

Once the game restarts with a kick off then a referee cannot go back to undo or redo any decision. It is a fundamental tenet of the Law.

This is what the Law book says and I quote
**If, after a goal is scored and play has restarted, the referee realises an extra person was on the field of play when the goal was scored, the goal cannot be disallowed. If the extra person is still on the field the referee must:
# stop play
# have the extra person removed
# restart with a dropped ball or free kick as appropriate
The referee must report the incident to the appropriate authorities.**

So there you have it. The goal stands.
Each situation will be different ranging from say an over excited substituted player / substitute who is stood a few yards on the pitch to an incorrect substitution where the player has not left and continued to play.

In a English Premier League game last season involving Liverpool a mistake was made in disallowing a goal for offside. The VAR official thought that the referee had awarded the goal and play restarted with an indirect free kick for offside. Even the VAR officials knew after play had restarted that there was a clear error yet nothing could be done. It obviously caused a furore after the game and the EPL decided that the result should stand and that nothing should be done other than a learning outcome for match officials to take steps to ensure it is not repeated.

So in your case the referee may have reported the matter to the competition organisers which is all that can be done by the match official. The club can protest the result to the same competition organisers who can rule on the matter.
The competition organisers can look at the video and take into account the report from the referee as to what he believed happened and also why it happened.
There may be an explanation for the situation and it can be an error which was corrected after the goal or it can simply be a player encroachment.
The competition organisers will take into account its rules of competition, the circumstances of why it happened and make a ruling.
Joe McHugh