Question Number: 26750

Law 3 - Number of Players 9/11/2012

RE: Select Under 17

Kevin Baker of Charlottesville, VA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 15094

Just had this happen. Parents had to tell the ref there were too many players. The AR flaged the center ref, who stopped the game, and sent a player off. No one recievd a yellow card, and the game was restarted with a drop ball.

Later, at half time, the parents said the team may have scored upto 2 goals with 12 people on the feild. I talked to the ref at half time to get his thoughts. He said he was sorry he missed it, but there was nothing he could do.

Prior to this, We had two stoppages due to lightening, and I think the other team put 12 on the feild at the restart. So I can't really blame it on poor substituion.
What should have been done about the goals scored?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Kevin
The referee did all that he could do in law which was to remove the extra player from the field of play with eth exception that the restart should have been an IDFK against the 12 player team from where the ball was when play was stopped. Also the referee could have cautioned the player that was removed who should not have been there but he may have felt that it was an error and just let the caution slide.
As play had been restarted after all the goals and the referee was unaware that there was an extra player on the field of play then the goals must stand. Indeed it could be possible that the extra player was not on the field of play at the time of the goals. I suspect as well that the lightning situation distracted the referee in what is a worrying time for match officials
The referee though should report the matter to the competition authority as to what happened.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The referee was correct to not caution anyone, as the issue was probably caused at least in part by the ref crew not counting players when the game resumed.

A goal can be disallowed for too many players on the field only if it caught before the ensuing kickoff. Once play is restarted, things stand.