Question Number: 23111

Law 7 - Match Duration 4/13/2010

RE: select Under 12

jeff of kenner, LA jefferson asks...

In a tournament using two 5-minute periods,a goal was scored in 2nd and final period to put team ahead 2-1.
The ball was being placed at midfield, when mid-ref noticed he had lost track of game-time and the already credited/acknowledged goal was scored AFTER 5 minutes had expired.
He negated goal and the game went to PKs.
Is this the correct call?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The referee has up until the next restart to change a decision made in the game, including a decision of whether a goal is scored or not. While this is poor mechanics on the part of the referee (not keeping track of time), the decision is correct. The game should have been over before the goal was scored. It would not be fair to the team which conceded the goal to allow it to stand.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee committed a grave error with respect to time, and ,thus, found it necessary to resolve a problem he alone created. The referee has the power to disallow the goal (so long as play has not restarted with a kickoff) and declare the match ended. So, the referee's decision was one he had the power to make.

There are some circumstances in which the ultimate decision how to fix a referee error resides in the tournament director. This is one of them. I suspect, however, that the tournament likely would prefer the result after kicks from the penalty mark to a decision that one team advances when it scored a goal long after the match should have ended, or to a decision that the final five minutes must be played again.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Jeff
I really find this very disapponting that a referee should make this error when a goal was scored and the outcome results in kicks from the penalty mark. One of the key roles of the referee is to act as timekeeper and keeps a record of the match.
I believe that the correct call was to inform both teams that he made a timing error and that he would have to report the matter to the tournament organisers indicating this, the amount of time he played over the 5 minutes and allow the organisers to decide if the result should stand.
My personal view is that if the time was insignificant say 30 seconds then he should have blown up for full time after the kick off.
Having said that he was entitled to do what he did and disallow the goal and go to KFTPM.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Yes this is correct but the referee should never had been in this position as a very large part of his job is to keep time. But, since he had not restarted or terminated the game, he may change the decision. If the goal was scored clearly after the 5 minutes and any added time were up, it would be patently unfair to the team that was scored upon to allow the goal. In most tournaments I've worked, the referee's decision is final and if he elected to go to KFTPM, then that's what should have been done.