Question Number: 14501

Law 7 - Match Duration 11/24/2006

RE: Rec Under 11

Robert Whittle of Glassboro, New Jersey USA asks...

In a recent game our team shot the ball into the net as time expired. The referee informed us that the shot was already in the air as time expired but wasn't in the goal. For this reason, he disallowed the goal. Was his ruling correct?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Unfortunately, time is up when the referee says it is. Extra time is alloted per his/her discretion and when the referee says game is over, it's over.

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Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Referee was correct. It is not like basketball and when time is up, then game ends. Now most referees would not end a game while ball is in air and heading toward the goal.

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Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

As a match referee most of try to end things under less momentous circumstances, we figure a few seconds lost here and there allow this. We are bound in Law by this: The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the referee and the two participating teams. This, together with allowance for all time lost, results in an end to that particular period of play. Again, most of us tend to watch and see what happens to a ball in flight towards goals.

Regards,

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