Question Number: 19694

Law 5 - The Referee 8/5/2008

chris of Vancouver, Canada asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19632

Not really a question, but just following up this question on lightning strikes etc, and the decision to continue or not continue with a match.

Note following:

Two killed, 6 injured by lightning in Mexico
August 1, 2008

The Associated Press

MEXICO CITY (AP) " Police say a lightning bolt has struck a soccer match between firefighters and civil protection workers in southern Mexico, killing two and injuring six.

Authorities say one player from each side died during Friday's local match in the southern state of Guerrero.

Mexican news media reported that the game went ahead despite reports of electrical storms in the area.

The injured were being treated at hospitals for second-degree burns.


Here's the link:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hWlmkHZZ_rqh35IUJfhwEI3kBS4gD929SB580

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Sad the fact that a game was worth this cost. I am sure the referee and the authorities are doing some serious soul searching about now . May God have mercy on those who died, help the injured and forgive those who let this happen.


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Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Sorry to hear that. If there is lightning in the area, the match is suspended until no lightning or thunder for at least 30 minutes.

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Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

There are referees who will be faced with this decision and not take it just like this referee did. He will not do it again.

Too bad many referees just have to learn hard lessons on their own instead of taking the advice of others. It happens in every form of endeavour, some examples are flying your airplane at low level, driving too fast for conditions, having a go at white water, jumping with a reserve parachute that hasn't been inspected in a couple years, repelling on old line, throwing out the anchor without checking if it is attached to the boat. All these things will get you killed graveyard dead, so will running around in a thunderstorm.

There are just so many ways Charles Darwin is proven right it is hard to keep up. While I do feel quite sad about the killed and wounded I have absolutely no sympathy for the ivory skull referee who should have known better, and I an unanimous in that feeling

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