Question Number: 24355

Law 7 - Match Duration 11/21/2010

RE: Competetive Adult

Tomasz Czekeryla of Dolgellau, Wales asks...

Can a referee blow for half time when when a player is 1 on 1 with a GK ?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tomasz
The referee is the sole judge of time and if time has fully expired the referee should end the half or the game.
In the modern game many referees now use a timing method that involves the use of 'buzzer' watches which they stop for injuries, delays, cautions etc. These referees when the watch reaches zero blows the whistle to end the half/game no matter what is happening in the game. Other referees make a guesstimate on the amount of added time and it probably the most common method. In those circumstances a referee can find say a number of seconds to allow a play to finish out.
In your situation the referee was using the latter method and he was entitled to do that. Some might not like it but there is nothing wrong with it.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

If, according to the time as kept by the referee, time has expired - there is no more to be added - then it doesn't matter what is happening on the field, the game is concluded.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Short answer, the referee may stop the match whenever he decides the match is over. If the referee decides all time has expired including any time he added, he should end the match.

Many referees and others think the game should be extended if there is a scoring opportunity. In their minds, it's unfair to the team trying to score. Well, how fair is it to the defending team to extend time just so they may be scored upon? Only fair thing, and soccer is all about fair play, is to stop the game when it is over. Period