Question Number: 12987

Law 7 - Match Duration 6/7/2006

RE: Rec. Adult

Dave Hoenie of Cincinnati, OH USA asks...

It appears from reading other answers to questions that when time runs out, that's it. Maybe another question would be "Didn't there used to be a recommendation for the game to run if there is a corner kick to be taken or the attack has entered the penalty area?" I have never seen a half end before a corner kick has been taken and never seen the ball taken out of the net because time expired right before the ball entered the net in any EPL, Bundesliga, Serie A, or La Liga professional match or any MSL match for that matter. Could this be just coincidence?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Dave,
you need to watch more games. ;o)
You are correct it does not happen often but be clear, it can and does and when it does it is 100% correct in law, just not always the best choice. Although we state in LAW the referee is the sole arbitrator of the time continume on the soccer pitch we should not look for ways to make life difficult. I personally can think of at least 15 games I personally have ended a match on a goal as well as a miss on goal deflected off a defender for corner or an attacker for a goal kick . In the MLS I have seen a free kick in SCORING position not taken as the half ended. In World cup play and EPL the a referee blowing a whistle just before the ball crosses the goalline. In a proffesional NSL match the keeper blowing before the ball crosses the goaline but still awards the goal to avoid sending off a player.
Tonight I ended the match on a goal without going to kickoff two nights ago I ended a match after a miss on goal after a great save by the keeper that deflected out for a corner. Time is up when it is up. To be blunt I recommend not blowing a whistle as the ball is headed into goal. This occurs when referees are focused on their watch and not the game. But see no problem ending play if the ball goes out of play. I will say again it is unfair to defend longer as it is to play shorter. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes, time is up when time is up. Plain and simple. It is not like basketball when a shot can go in after the buzzer if ball is released. This is why soccer makes sense and other American sports do not. How can a shot that goes in after the sound of the buzzer count? Speaking of Dawson's comment on watching the watch and not the game..I will never forget the game that I was an AR on a hot, humid, and steamy day. The referee was plain exhausted and was waiting for the game to end. In the final seconds the ball was in front of goal and the blue team was about ready to kick it in. I could see the ref watching his watch and not the game and he blew it a split second before ball was kicked in. That goal would have won the game and the score stayed tied. I will never forget the coaches rushing over to the referee after that. I also have ended matches on corner kicks in particular when the kicking team is not hustling to the ball. I also have ended games on free kicks near the goal again when the team is not hustling. As Always,

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Never seen me work, I try not to blow for time when the ball is in flight toward goals, but at other times when time is up things stop. There are times when I add significant amounts and times when I end things before they should be. One side wasting inordinant amounts to take a one goal lead home is gonna extend play a long time. When I ask a captain who has 8:0 against him if he's tired and wants to go home and he says yes, things end right about then.

One referee said they don't pay me overtime wages so when the watch beeps I blow the whistle, he clearly didn't understand that a few seconds/minutes amongst friends isn't really noticed all that much.

Regards,