Question Number: 18059

Law 7 - Match Duration 12/4/2007

RE: Rec Under 18

Jeffrey Izzo of Seattle, WA USA asks...

The situation: the ball was in play in front of the goal. One team kicked it in to score, but in the midst of that the ref called the game. Should the point count? Is there a certain point that the whistle must be blown to determine whether the goal counts? Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

No. The time is up when the referee decides it is! That means even if the ball was flying into the open goal and exactly 1/5 of a second before the goal would be scored the refereed deemed that time expired, any subsequent action (like the goal) would be called off as the match would be considered over.

I wouldn't do that as a referee, unless I had a desire to be chased about the pitch, but the referee is within his rights to do it.

Unlike basketball, there is no clear signal to indicate when the match has come to an end, that happens in the referee's mind - then and only then will the referee inform everyone else that the match is over - usually with some special sequence of whistling (I like the short, short, long bursts to indicate this).

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

One would hope that the referee was paying at least as much attention to the game as he was to his timepiece. When there is something exciting going on in the game such as an imminent goal, I find myself watching the action to see that the goal is properly scored or not. I'll look at the time on my watch when things are a bit less intense.

Having said that, if the referee has determined by whatever magic and technology he decides to employ that all time has expired, he is correct to stop play. If the time is up, why should the defenders be subject to extra time until the attackers have completed their play?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If the referee stopped play before all of the ball crossed over all of the goal line under the crossbar and between the goal posts in accordance with Law 10, then the goal does not count. The game is over when the referee decides it is.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the whole ball was not completly over the goal line before the time expired, then no.