Question Number: 18822

Law 7 - Match Duration 4/19/2008

RE: High School

Steven Mackey of Auburn , Alabama USA asks...

Recently at a tournament the referee blew the whistle for halftime just as a player was taking a corner kick. A goal was scored but disallowed as time had expired. My understanding was that the ball had to be in play for the whistle to blow. What is the rule on this?
Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Steven,
your assumtion is incorrect, time is up when it is up, the ball does NOT have to be in play. That said time is relative and rarely to the micro second but ONLY at a PK is time EXTENDED for a kick to be taken. If a referee blows the whistle BEFORE a ball has completely crossed the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts no goal can be awarded. It is as unfair for a team to defend longer as it is to take away time to attack. I think it better to deny the opportunity to take a kick then to blow as the ball is in the air towards goal. Sometimes when time is to the last second a referee will look at the circumstances of time added and the hustle of the team taking the kick.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Actually a restart after the ball has been kicked over a field boundary is a, sort of, good time to end things. Unless the ball is kicked a long way away, then a good time to end things is after someone else gets the ball. That way the tired old referee is not hiking to where ever the ball wound up, a young less tired player is doing the "go fetch". When the full time allotted the match and any added time to make up for that lost is over the match should end. I do tend to add more for someone else to get the ball...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Your understanding is one of the popular myths of the game. The half is over whenever the referee decides it is. The only time play is allowed after this is if there was a violation that resulted in a penalty kick BEFORE the referee ended play. He would extend play for the taking of the penalty kick as required.