Question Number: 26650

Law 7 - Match Duration 8/19/2012

RE: Under 19

Martin of Adekaide, South Australia Australia asks...

In an under 13 game with a running clock when should the ref blow the whistle for full time. E.g if a corner is won after playing full time

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Martin
The referee should end the game when the time has fully expired.
Now referees differ on timing methods. Some will end the game on the exact second the watch reaches zero no matter where the ball is while others will allow a few seconds to see out a play such as a corner.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

There is no requirement that the ball be in play for time to expire. So it could happen that after the ball went out for a corner kick, time was up. The only restart that time is extended for is the penalty kick.

If the team is hustling to get the ball into play, the referee might allow a few seconds more time - after all, not every last second of wasted time may have been accurately accounted for. But the referee should not allow the corner kick to be taken and then immediately blow the whistle. While it would be absolutely in accordance with the Laws of the Game, it does not lead to good feelings, especially if the ball ends up in the goal just after the whistle. The referee should either decide that all time has expired and stop before the corner kick, or should determine that there's at least enough time for the immediate resolution of the corner kick to play out. Not extend indefinitely until the team loses possession of the ball, but at least see if the kick bends into the goal or is volleyed into the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The referee should blow the whistle for full time when all time has been taken. Most referees will not stop play if there is an attack mounted but I have always wondered how it is remotely fair to the defending team to extend time when you know all time has been used just to give the attackers a chance to score?