Question Number: 25637

Law 10 - Method of Scoring 10/20/2011

RE: Select Under 13

Mike Schulz of Atlanta, GA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25368

Wow, I think I find a BIG MISS on the responses to the question.

First Sentence of Rule 10:

'A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal'

Is not the timing of the whistle irrevelant? Did I miss something here?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

The whistle is used to stop play.

Once play is stopped, the ball is then out of play.

Now, you can't very well score a goal when the ball is out of play, can you?

The laws of the game aren't a technical legal document and aren't designed to put, in black and white, every concievable scenario. Much of what's written depends on understanding of refereeing practice, an awareness of the game and the spirit of the laws, and a knowledge of the interpretations of other parts of law which can be applied to various other laws.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Mike, surely you don't think the LOTG have to specify that the ball has to be in play for a goal to be scored.That's an assumption IFAB makes that we all know. By your reasoning a team at the half could kick the ball into the net and score a goal or kick the ball into the net after the game had ended and still score a goal. The crux of the original question was when did the referee stop play in which we decided he stopped play before the ball scored so there should have been no goal.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

In a followup, Mike noted that he mis-read who was fouled - he thought the attacker was the guilty party. (Don't you hate it when that happens on a recert test?)

Our answers here reflect the situation of the attacker being fouled by a defender. If the referee blows the whistle too soon in that situation, the goal cannot be scored. If the referee waits a moment to blow the whistle to see if there's any advantage - and a scored goal is a really, really good advantage - then the goal counts.