Question Number: 26864

Law 8 - Start and Restart of Play 10/1/2012

RE: rec,competitive Under 19

casey of Roy, UT weber asks...

after the offensive team has scored a goal, and the opposing team has already kicked the ball off and the game has been in play for minimum of two minutes, the referee realizes that the offensive team that just scored had twelve people on the team that scored the goal, does the ref have the right to pull the goal from the team that scored with twelve players?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Once the referee has allowed play to restart, the time for changing a decision has expired. The referee would report the error in allowing too many players, and the competition authorities would have to decide the matter.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Nope. Once the referee allowed the ensuing kick-off, the goal could not be taken back

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Once play restarts with a kick off the referee cannot reverse his decision so the goal must stand. The referee reports the circumstances to the competition organisers who will decide on the matter.
The referee may also not be sure either when the 12 player sitaution happened and perhaps the 12th player joined after the goal.
It does highlight the importance of counting players before kick off and then managing substitutions carefully and any other situations where it is possible for players to join play.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Nope! The only time the goal can be cancelled is before the ball is put back into play after the goal is scored. After that, the referee's only choice is to allow the goal to stand, and to make a note of the circumstances on the game report and leave it to the league authorities.

Moral of that story is not to allow too many players on the field. Count after every substitution, and after every goal is a good rule for referees and their assistants.