Question Number: 17978

Law 7 - Match Duration 11/21/2007

RE: Adult

Kyle of Framingham, MA U.S.A asks...

Can someone answer this?

If after 35 minutes have been played during a night match and you as the referee
of the game anticipate that you will be unable to play the required 90 minutes as desired. What should the referee do?

- Stop play early for half time and play 35 minutes in the second half.
- Attempt to play for 90 minutes but abandon the game early if it becomes dangerous due to poor visibility?
- Play 45 minutes for the first half and play 35 minutes in the second half?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Now If I were the referee I would know what time sunset was in the area. I would know before starting the match that I had a specific amount of daylight left. I would know that the players are entitled to an interval and calculate the length of two equal periods of play then tell the teams what my intentions were before the match started. If they agreed to my decision as to the length of the two equal periods of play I would start the match. If they didn't agree I would go home, file a match report and expect to collect a match fee. But that's just me.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I have been in just such a situation. Knowing the sunset time helps immensely - the Naval Observatory has a website that will give you that time for any location in the US (and many other places in the world) for every day of the year.

There have been games where I thought we'd get the time in, but for whatever reason as the game progressed it appeared that it would get dark sooner than expected. Cloud cover and physical location of the field (behind trees, mountains or other light-blocking obstacles) made it look like it might not be able to be finished. In that case I told the teams at halftime, "We may not be able to finish the game because of darkness. If I determine that will be so, I will announce that we have "X" minutes of play left. When that time is over, the game is over, regardless of the situation." X being a small number, 3 or 5 minutes. No one has complained yet. But then I haven't yet tried it in a game that will decide a championship.

I would also note that youth leagues in my area consider a game complete if it is 1/2 or 2/3's completed.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The referee cannot shorten a half as both halves must be the same length. Also, it must be "ok" with league rules to shorten a gamePRIOR TO THE MATCH. All the referee can do is report everything and let the league decide.