Question Number: 22174

Law 7 - Match Duration 10/6/2009

RE: competive Under 13

jason of twin falls, idaho usa asks...

At the end of the game the ref added stopage time.Team A was fouled by Team B just outside of the 18yd box and the whistle was blown for the foul thenblown for the end of the game seconds later. Canthe ref blow the whistle to end the game if it ison a direct kick? Or should the ref let the kicktake place and the game called just after thekick. The game ended 1-1.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The match is over when all stoppage time has expired unless a penalty kick was awarded before time ran out in which case the penalty kick would be taken.

A lot of referees feel it unfair to stop the game when there is a scoring opportunity even though ALL time has expired. I disagree with that and always have. How is it possibly fair to the opponents, if the referee allows play to continue simply because a team has a scoring opportunity? IMO, the referee should stop play regardless of where the ball is once he/she has decided the game was over. That;s fair to everybody

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jason
In a normal game the referee has the discretion to allow added time for time lost during the game. He is the sole judge of time. It is very difficult to be precise in calculating added time as some of the calculations are estimates such as for substitutions, time wasting etc. So the Referee has added on say x minutes made up of exact injury stoppages and an estimate for the rest then I would see no difficulty in allowing another 10 secs which can be a long enough to take a free kick. Other referees that I know blow the whistle on the exact expiry of the added time and it does cause problems. My advice to referees is either see the play out or not to allow it to get play there in 1st place. If he had blown 15 seconds earlier the ball was probably in mid field and there would be little debate. As regards your question the referee was entitled to do what he did under the Laws. He would have to extend time to allow a penalty kick.
In other games the answer could depend on the competition rules. Some games have a fixed set time with no added time so lets say it is a 70 minutes games, so when 70 minutes has elapsed the whistle is blown. That one is pretty straightforward.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The match can end when the ball is out of play, even on a direct free kick. The referee decides when time has expired, although the referee has discretion to determine how much to add for time lost for injury, substitutions and other delays.

IMO, it is lawful but unwise for the referee to let the kick proceed and then blow the whistle as the ball is in the air. I believe the better choices are either to not allow the kick, or allow the kick and wait a few seconds to see if a goal is scored directly before deciding that time has expired.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Think of this scenario from another perspective. Perhaps the referee knew time was almost up, including the full amount of added time he had determined. But he was correctly watching the play not his watch. After blowing for the foul and checking that there would not be any retaliation or other shenanigans, the ref had time to look at his wrist - time's up. End of the game. To extend time to allow the attacking team an extra shot at goal is unfair to the defending team.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Yes the referee can end the match on a foul whether it is absolutely necessary to do so though is another matter!
ONLY if there is a PENALTY kick is time permitted to be EXTENDED to allow its completion!
That said a DFK foul outside the area in the thinking as a last minute Pk it is NOT inconceivable the referee could stop time and then add those few seconds once play has restarted!
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 22287