Question Number: 12700

Law 7 - Match Duration 5/1/2006

RE: U-8 Adult

Melody of Heath, Texas usa asks...

Our player was on a break away, he was right in front of the goal ABOUT to shoot when the ref. blew the whistle to end the game. Well?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Well, the match is over. Sometimes things just happen. We would wish he waited, unless we were defending -- in that case we would be ecstatic.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Melody,
tough break for the attackers good break for the defenders. The referee as timekeeper, defender of the faith and allaround guardian of fairplay and integrity indicates the match is over the match is over. While it is true that time is relative and not to the millisecond we could look for less controversial moments to end a match on, however, it is as unfair to defend longer as it is to have attacks shortened.

WE actually do look for attacking opportunities to run their course if possible rather than make a rod for our backs! In some cases it is not possible, especially when the whistle goes!

At least YOUR shot was not yet headed into an open goal with no chance of the keeper stopping it as the whistle goes just before the ball crosses the goalline! Yes it does happen, twice to the teams I coached and twice again as a player. I did not appreciate it then either much as you do not now. The referee pointed to his watch and stated time was up on every occassion. The "Are you serious part? prompted a yellow as a player and a warning as a coach.