Question Number: 24166

Law 7 - Match Duration 10/16/2010

RE: Rec. Under 15

Larry of San Ramon, CA USA asks...

In a 1-0 game, which we lost, the referee ended the game while my team was attacking with the ball in the penalty area. After the game I thanked and complimented the referee for his work, but also politely mentioned that in my 8 years of coaching I had never seen a referee stop a game while the ball was in the penalty area. This was not intended as a complaint on my part, as I know the referee can stop the game at anytime, but I thought it was an unwritten rule not to do it during an attack. He politely informed me that he had already decided how much time to add for an earlier injury, and to add anymore time would have been unfair to the other team. What are your thoughts on this?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The ref is correct. Time is up when time is up; it doesn't matter the position of the ball. It would be unfair to the other team to extend time further just to allow you the chance to score.

There are some caveats, of course. Oftentimes when play is in the penalty area the referee would be unwise to look away from play just to see if his watch has gotten to the correct time. There's just so many more important things to look at. And most referees wouldn't blow the whistle as the ball in the air headed toward goal - although that has been done before, and in very high-level games.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Larry
Unwritten rules are not part of the Laws of the Game. Many referees now with digital watches simply stop the watch for stoppages and when the counter reaches zero the game is stopped and they firmly believe that to not end the game at that time would be unfair. That is the referee's decision.
I might add that teams have 80 minutes @ U15 to score goals and reliance on the referee timekeeping in added time at the end of the game is not a good approach.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

First Coach, let me commend you for the way you handled this and your general attitude. Props to you and I'm sure you're a good role model for your players.

That said, I'd also say I'm at odds with many of my fellow referees that absolutely won't stop the game if a team has mounted an attack. These referees subscribe to the unwritten rule you refer to.

Which I find to be absolutely one of the most unfair things I have ever witnessed in any sport. The game is over when the game is over. If the referee has added ALL the time he/she intended, how is it even remotely fair to the other team to allow the game to continue? Whenever a referee does this he is saying to the defending team 'The game is over but I'm going to give the other team some additional time to see if they can score against you.' Look at it like this and ask yourself how you would feel if you were up a goal and the referee said just that to you.