Question Number: 25368

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 8/30/2011

RE: Social Adult

andy of Hong Kong, Hong Kong China asks...

The referee blows the whistle for a foul on an attacker at the VERY same moment that the ball bounces over the line and into the goal. The goal stands. Was the referee correct to allow the goal?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Andy
It depends on whether the ball crossed the line before play was stopped with the whistle sounded. If the whistle sounds then play is stopped at that point.
In this scenario it would be poor mechanics by the referee to blow the whistle just as the ball bounces over the line.
In the absence of any certainty the referee could deem that the ball had in fact crossed the line before the whistle and allow the goal.
The alternative decision would be to award a direct free kick or penalty kick if the offence happened inside the penalty area and perhaps dismiss the defender for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity if the conditions so existed.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the ball completely crossed the line before the whistle sounded, the goal counts. If not, the goal doesn't count. The referee decides what actually happened.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Time for 'How many angels can dance on a pinhead'.

Let's look at your question as written. At the exact time that all the ball crossed over all the line and into the goal, the referee blew his whistle to stop play. Since the whistle is a signal that play has ALREADY been stopped. play must have been stopped just before the goal was scored so no goal.

Of course, the referee is going to say he either blew the whistle before or after the ball scored. This referee apparently blew the whistle after the ball had scored

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

See Question: 25637

See Question: 25638