Question Number: 18855

Law 7 - Match Duration 4/22/2008

Mike Timmons of the U, nc us asks...

if you are in addition time near the end of a match or halftime, and a team is in the opposing half.. is it only proper that the ref has to allow time to continue until the defenders clear the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Mike it is only proper the referee blows for time when full time, plus that which he added to make up for lost time, is up. One need only look as far as Liverpool 1:1 Chelsea 22 Apr 08 to see what happens when you wait for a clearance. Oops...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The referee only has to allow time to continue until time is up, not until some event or other on the field has concluded. The Laws give the referee the duty to keep time and to add time lost thru delay, injury, etc. It may seem odd that a referee ends the game in the middle of a play, but if that is when time expired, then so be it.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Mike,
situational awarness allows us to hold the whiste as the ball rolls into the goal but blow the whistle when time has expired. Circumstances dictate the reasonableness of a decision. With time winding down a referee must remain diligent and focused on the PLAY not the wrist. The last few ticks tell a tale of what the teams were like in the match and the attitude and hustle of the participants . Time is relative and rarely to the micro second but it is as unfair to play too long as it is to cut play too short. Is one team way ahead? Is one team lagging badly to use up time? Yes we look for the ball in a neutral position WHEN it is convienient but some times TIME is not convienient the match is simply over despite control,possession and imminent attacking possibilities!
Only on a PK is time permitted to be EXTENDED (not made up lost time) but actually overrun the 90 minute match duration.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Hi Mike, Keeping time in soccer is not done to the fraction of a second like in swimming or drag racing. In Canada we are advised by the FIFA referees that we start our watches just before the blowing for kick off, probably adding a second or two right there. In addition, we are told if there is an attack and a goal scoring opportunity let the play go on for a bit. That means seconds, not tens of seconds. Clive Thomas in a long ago World Cup blew his whistle just as soon the corner kick was taken. he was right - it was the end of the game. The ball went straight into the net. Clive Thomas never got another international game. I am talking Common Sense.