Question Number: 28169

League Specific 2/11/2014

masood of rasht, Iran asks...

Hi,in a 4 team group and in the 3rd match one of the teams did not attend in the 3rd match and result of this match and number of goals effect on the table.
what would be the result?
1- just this match would be 3-0
2- or all of scores and points of this team would be eliminated from the table

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Massod,

Each local competition sets their own rules regarding what happens in the case of forfeits - the FIFA Laws Of The Game do not cover this.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Masood
It is up to the competition rules to cover this and it is not covered in the FIFA Laws of the Game.
In FIFA competitions such as the World Cup a team sanctioned with a forfeit is considered to have lost the match by 3-0. All other results stand.
I have seen 3-0 sanctions only and I have also seen all results pertaining to the team being wiped out. Only the competition organisers could answer the question.
In my opinion where there is an absence of a rule and goal difference applies with say significant thrashing of the team by the other teams in a four team group then the fairest decision is that all results involving this team should be nullified. That decision does not penalises the team's goal difference who did not get to play these opponents. On the flip side others can say that timing/luck played a part and that the 3-0 forfeit should stand.