Question Number: 18169

Law 7 - Match Duration 12/23/2007

RE: Recreation Under 10

Matt of San Diego, U.S. asks...

I was reffing a young kid's tournament. Near the end of the game, I hadn't been looking at my watch too closely. A tripping foul was committed well outside the penalty area on a attacking player. After whistling for the foul I looked down at my watch (I had a regular watch - no beeper), and was definitely over game time. I called the game.

This of course looked bad to some of the attacking player's fans. Other than how things looked, is there actually any rule regarding ending a game on a penalty, like in American football? (At this point I don't believe there is unless it's a pk.)

I still see the issue in a few ways: It was a mistake of mine to let the game go too long, so in one sense granting even more extra time is like trying to correct a wrong with a wrong. I also know that it were any other restart, I was good to stop the game. However it still bugged me a little, that if the tripping hadn't occured, the player may have gotten closer to the goal, and taken a shot, which if good, I would have allowed. (It wasn't an absolute break away by any means, nor was the tripping malicious, which is why I probably just said game over.) Thanks.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Matt, you did what is expected. The match had ended, you blew the whistle. Pay better attention in future matches and don't worry about this one.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Your watch told you the match was obviously over well before the infraction occurred, so you ended the match which was correct. I'd add that had this been a trip inside the penalty area you likewise would have ended the match as the trip took place after play has ended. This is not the same as adding time for the taking of a penalty kick. Had the trip occurred BEFORE time had expired and it was inside the penalty area you would allow the penalty kick to take place even if time runs out before the actual taking of the kick.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

The only time you extend the game is for the taking of a penalty kick. This was just a free kick - so you did the right thing.