Question Number: 16360

Law 5 - The Referee 8/19/2007

RE: rec Adult

rob of mississauga, ontario canada asks...

during one of our games in the 63 min one of the opposing players recieved his second yellow card , which meant red and turned around and threatend the referee,alot of players heard the threat, and the referee decided to end the game right away . the opposing team was winning at the moment , but if the game would have continued we would have played with one extra player and with lots of time left could have tied or won the game , my question is in a case like that who wins the game ? does it get replayed or do they lose by default since it was one of there players who threatened the ref ?the league has told me that they will apply fifa rules but they haven't told me anything yet and i can't find answers anywhere .

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Oh, dear. This is one of those questions that can only be answered with a qualified "It depends!" The league rules on what is to be done about such games will control the outcome. It is always helpful to a league to have a written complaint filed by a team in such circumstances, because then they can require (if they don't already have it) the report from the referee and take statements, etc. to determine the fairest thing to do in these circumstances. In fact, many leagues/associations will do nothing at all until a written complaint is filed. Who wins will depend on the arbitration rules for the association, and can be influenced by written evidence against the other team. Good luck!

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

This is up to the league. The league always decides the fate of a terminated or abandoned match.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee is just going to make sure everything said after the sending-off is contained within his match report. After it is delivered to the league it is their decision whether or not the match is replayed from the beginning, the match result stands or something else is done. It is important the realise that any disciplinary measures that are felt necessary by the referee remain in effect and are not overturned by the league because those are facts connected with play.

Regards,