Question Number: 8644

Law 7 - Match Duration 11/20/2004

john lounger of , Great Britian asks...

A hot topic of discussion here in the UK was if a referee plays 40 minutes instead of 45 minutes in the first half. .Is the second half still to be 45 minutes, .if he knows about the error before he restarts the second half? .if he knows about the error, after he restarted the second half?.if he knows about the error before the players have left the pitch? .Can he call them back and restart the first half? .if he knows about the error after say 2 or 3 minutes into the halftime break? .Can he call them back and restart the first half?.if he knows about the error after the halftime break can he restart the first half for five minutes and then switch halves?

Answer provided by Referee Dawson 11/20/2004

Hi John, .the law states two equal halves it also states that any deviation of duration requires consultation and approval of all three parties, referee and both teams prior to kick off. .referee error has placed this game in jepordy of being replayed. Still rather than compound a mistake if we look to FIFA Q@A.4. Can the referee compensate an error in the timekeeping during the first half, adding or subtracting time in the second half?.Answer No...If we read law 4 Periods of Play.The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the referee and the two participating teams. Any agreement to alter the periods of play (for example to reduce each half to 40 minutes because of insufficient light) must be made before the start of play and must comply with competition rules...Upon reading the FIFA Q@A it would appear that we must play the 2nd half to be 45 minutes as it says we cannot add or subtract time to make up the difference. Yet the law says we need two equal halves? If we played 55 minutes instead of 40 could we make the second half 55 minutes to equal it out? I do not think so! 45 is the agreed amount your mistake does not change that...However, to ensure the equal part of too little time can we somehow restart or finish off the first half before we restart the second? I believe it is too late once the match is restarted after the break switching sides and all.. .I think we could finish up the 1st half, provided you catch the error quickly BEFORE the break while players are still about the field. Once the break is on players could be in varying stages of undress, shoes off, sock changes or in the washroom etc. The restart would be a dropball at he ball's location when the whistle sounded OR if the match was called while the ball was out of play that restart that would have taken place, throw in corner, goal kick etc.. You would report the time discrestion to the appropriate authorities and they would decide to replay or not..Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer 11/20/2004

The match consists of two equal periods of 45 minutes each. This may be changed with the consent of both sides before the match begins. If an error is made with the time in the first half I tend to agree with Ref Dawson, if everyone is close by come back and play the rest of the time. If we?ve already gone into the locker rooms, let?s just forget the mistake and stay with what happened. ..Regards,

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

See Question: 12120