Question Number: 21663

Law 7 - Match Duration 7/18/2009

RE: Competitive 3 v 3 Under 17

Andy Russell of Kansas City, MO United States asks...

We were in a Kickit 3 v 3 trournament qualifier for regionals in Kansas CIty sponsored by GSI and the Kansas City Wizards. It was about the end of the first half (two 12 min running halves). The whistle had not blown, our player stole the ball in front of his goal and scored. The whistle then blew and then suddenly the ref yells 'no goal' the clock had stopped. He then said the clock had stopped by he had not blown his whistle and so he was not allowing the goal. The game ended with the other team winning by one goal but that doesn't really matter. The official 3 v 3 rule book simply states that the ref keeps official time but it says nothing that speaks to this issue. My argument is, if he looked at his clock after the goal was scored, how does he really know when time had stopped and whether it had indeed stopped. I have never seen a soccer half or game not end when the ref blows the whistle. Here is a recent quote from LA Galaxy coach.
'This team prides itself on working hard and not quitting until the whistle blows,' Davis said. 'I think we showed why we are such a good team. You know we are going to keep attacking and giving it our best until the whistle blows.'

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If your question is when does the game end, when the ref notices it on his watch or when he blows the whistle, the answer is it ends when the referee determines time has expired on his watch. The whistle blowing is simply the announcement of the fact that the game is over. Anything that happens between the time the referee determines time has expired and the blowing of the whistle is AFTER the game is over and doesn't count.

That said, the referee's mechanics and statements are a little green.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The whistle is simply an announcement to all that the half has already ended. I'm not sure I would blow my histle with the ball in th air heading towards the goal.