Question Number: 13785

Law 7 - Match Duration 9/15/2006

RE: Competive Under 12

Fran Dwyer of NewCastle, de USA asks...

The team that I coach is down 2-1 with about 20 seconds left in the match and had just been awarded a corner kick which we already scored one goal off of and had several other chances during the match. My player had the ball set and ready to kick from the corner and the referee blew the whistle to call the game. When I referee I have let the play happen and gave a quick whistle after the first opportinuity. I think we are both right but what is the actual ruling?

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Time is up and the game is over. Game needs to be extended only for a PK. Most referees will not stop on an attacking play however.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The actual answer is found in Law 7 - The Duration of the Match: The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless mutually agreed between the referee and the two participating teams. Further on we learn allowance is made in either period for all time lost through a number of defined things.

So you read Law 7 and found that a few seconds added for time lost might allow a corner kick. The referee on your match that day only read the first paragraph of Law 7. He blew for time when the allotted time expired. He was right. He could have been better served allowing the corner kick, as far as your side was concerned. Of course your opponents were happy they didn't have to defend another of your accurate corner kicks...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The match is over when the referee says it is so you are both correct. But, you are "more" correct in that most of us will let an attack commence before ending the match. the only time I've stopped a game on a free kick was when the player simply wouldn't take it. This went on for over 30 seconds and I asked the player and the coach to please take the kick or I'd have to end the game. they didn't and I did.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Fran,
While a referee could choose to end a match less controversially in truth the law states the referee has final say and while time is relative and rarely to the microsecond it is as unfair to extend time to score a goal as it is to shorten the time to prevent one.
As stated only on a PK is time manditory to be extended.
You state there were 20 seconds? By whose clock? Surely the referee did not tell you there were 20 seconds left but we are not taking the corner?
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 13803

See Question: 13846