Question Number: 24131

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 10/11/2010

RE: Rec, Select, Competitive, HS Under 16

Brian of Colorado Springs, CO USA asks...

Strange situation in Cup this weekend. A ball from another field came onto our field and hit our game ball. Our game ball fell right to our player, who then scored the winning goal. The referee allowed the goal to stand, which I think is correct, because as I understand it, the ball is in play unless it goes over the goal or sidelines or unless the referee stops play. Since he did not stop play, our ball should still have been live. Is the other ball just considered a part of the field (like a referee or assistant, goalpost or corner flag)? Any insight?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

If it happened as you said, the referee should have stopped play.

While it is common for another ball to run onto the field during a match, most of the time play will not be stopped when the ball has not affected the match. Hitting the game ball and careening it to an attacking player seems quite different.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Page 58 of the I&G section of the Laws:
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Extra balls on the field of play

If an extra ball enters the field of play during the match, the referee must stop the match only if it interferes with play. Play must be restarted by a dropped ball from the position of the ball when the match was stopped, unless play was stopped inside the goal area, in which case the referee drops the ball on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the ball was located when play was stopped.

If an extra ball enters the field of play during the match without interfering with play, the referee must have it removed at the earliest possible opportunity.
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Since the extra ball hit your game ball, it definitely interfered with play. The referee should have stopped play and restarted with a dropped ball.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
The correct decision here was to stop play and restart with a dropped ball where play was stopped. Many years ago once a second ball entered the field of play anywhere the game had to be stopped. That was abused by teams and now the game is only stopped when the 'extra' ball interferes with play. Clearly it did here so play should have been stopped.
The referee here is not alone. Last season in a Liverpool v Sunderland game the match ball hit a red balloon and entered the Liverpool goal. The referee allowed the goal whereas he should have stopped play and restarted with a dropped ball due to interference with play.