Question Number: 28679

Law 5 - The Referee 8/21/2014

RE: Competitive Under 15

Aaron Speca of Virginia Beach, VA USA asks...

I'm almost giddy at finding somewhere I can ask these kinds of questions and get unbiased answers that are separated from my emotional attachment to the particular game! So sorry about the number of questions, I'm making up for lost time.

This offsides scenario occurred in a tournament just this past weekend. On this play, it appears pretty clear to me that the recipient of the final pass for White was certainly in offsides position when the ball was struck by her teammate. I just have to get this off my chest - it was the only 2nd half shot for White at all in a game that ended 3-3! But I digress ...

The question I have is more about what supposedly occurred afterwards (and is not in the video).

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NCpWP-DG8g

The coach, perhaps understandably, had a conversation with the AR immediately after the goal was scored (directly after the questionable pass). In it, I am told the AR before the center restart said something to the effect of 'well, there's nothing I can do about it now,' almost like he was admitting he made a mistake.

So, for the sake of argument, let's say either an AR or a CR convinces themselves or is convinced that they made an egregious error on a play like that, and they realize it before the subsequent restart. Is it really too late for them to fix it? In this situation specifically, would it have been possible for the officials to decide that the play was indeed offsides, wipe out the goal, and go to an IFK from the offsides spot?

And perhaps this is a separate question - is a play like this grounds for a protest (assuming that protests are allowed - this tournament had a no protest rule in the tournament rules)? I don't know much about what is and isn't permitted to be protested.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi again ,
Your astute questions will help others who follow us to better understand the intricacies of the game so ask away! If you have not yet figured it out yet, we love questions, it is our thing! lol

A referee can alter ANY decision as long as the match is NOT over and Play has not restarted.

The AR's comments seem to indicate the referee may not have been aware that he can take the goal away for a NEUTRAL AR revelation, if it was indeed, scored unfairly, or more likely, the referee had waved him off and was not accepting the input more so than the AR admitting a mistake. A Coach, as right as rain he may be, has no real credibility here to change a referee's mind by trying to get the AR involved. If the referee had accepted the AR information prior to the kick off (the AR can only relay the information to assist not insist he was right or the referee wrong) or if the referee figured out the correct sequence of events with a flash of revelation, he could indeed wipe out the goal, restart with the INDFK out!
The goal is not the restart, the kick off is! Sorry to say, once the kick off occurred, the goal as per the 1st part of the FIFA Quote, is now a fact of play and can not be altered!

START QUOTE
FIFA LOTG LAW 5 The REFEREE Decisions of the referee
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.

The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match END QUOTE

A referee with integrity sees what he sees and if we see it different then we agree to disagree and move on. Integrity does not prevent errors in law or lapses in judgement! If the knowledge is not present, the referee, sad to say, may not have been aware he could STILL do the right thing but only if he believed, there was a valid reason to disallow the goal! Once the referee had decided there was no offside, then there was no offside!

And NO, no protest can be upheld! We can hope that food for thought was placed in the mindsets of those who were unaware and are now full of the new knowledge that some mistakes can be undone even if we look a bit foolish. Fair is Fair and no referee should choose to stick with a decision he now knows to be incorrect IF it is in fact correctable! That is of course His Match! His Decision! His Reputation

It was a u-14 match tournament, large rosters, unlimited subs as many as they had were permitted sigh! I allowed a goal with too many players on the field only after a restart kick off did I find the 12th blue player. I apologised to the opposing team but the goal stood. I had waved on 3 subs at the midline but only two players had stepped off the field one far side touchline, another goal line but the third blue player who was on the opposite side of the field had walked around from his bench and was headed to the washrooms. So it looked as if 3 blue players had left the field instead of just the 2. I take pride in trying to make even unlimited substitutions follow correct procedures, just so these things do not occur but sometimes Murphy just decides to pay a visit lol
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

I've never refereed a match in which I didn't make a mistake. Fortunately, none directly changed the outcome of the match.

The book says that the referee can change any decision as long as the match restarted. But, in practice, referees usually only change a decision when:

(a) they get new information (from the assistant referee or fourth official) that convinces the referee that the original judgment should be revised. This is not just a differing opinion - - a referee shouldn't change a decision that X was a handling foul simply because an AR would not have called it. But, new information - - e.g., the referee saw the defender pull the attacker's jersey but didn't see that before that happened, the attacker elbowed the defender in the face.

(b) they are about to misapply the laws of the game. The assistant referee must (IMO) intervene to prevent an improper restart. For example, if the kicking team infringes on a penalty kick that results in the goal, the correct restart is to retake the kick. If the referee signals for an indirect free kick for the defense, the assistant referee should get the referee's attention before the restart and persuade (or try to persuade) the referee to apply the law correctly.

Note: a type (a) error (mistake in judgment) is not a proper subject for protest. A type (b) error is a proper ground for protest. My experience, however, is that leagues are loath to require a game to be rescheduled such that even when the referee misapplies the laws, a righteous protest is often rejected.

Most referee errors are minor - - we wish we had called the niggling foul before it led to something worse; we wish we had waited a second longer to blow the whistle or raise the flag. We have to make instant judgments and can wonder if we got it right. Those can't be fixed. But, they can be acknowledged. Most players will understand a mistake happened. (None will accept a game altering mistake or a referee team that seems to be making more than the usual number.)

Moreover, when a good referee doesn't let go of the last decision, the chance of screwing up the next one becomes more likely. The art of refereeing requires constant focus on hundreds of clues from the players. So, unless the referee is sure that a mistake has been made, good referees will wait until after the match is over, replay (in their mind) the event about 1000 times, and ask their mentors what other options would have been better.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Aaron
Thanks for the question and the video. Let's deal with the easy part first. On the second part of the question a protest cannot be made on a matter of opinion except for seeking to rescind a sending off. If the call is ''In the Opinion of the Referee'' then that is what it is and when there is no error in the application of the Law a protest will be dismissed. For instance this offside call could not be protested. Examples of protests that have been allowed are where a referee made an error in Law on Law 14 by saying awarding an IDFK when it should be a retake, failing to send off a player for two cautions
Moving on a referee can change any decision provided play has not restarted or ended. That change happens when the referee is given additional information say from an AR or they are made aware that he / she is about to misapply the Laws. Rarely will a referee change a decision on a doubtful offside call where play has proceeded. Its either given at the time or not. I believe the assistant referee comments here were misplaced in that instead of saying ' 'well, there's nothing I can do about it now'' he should have said ''I might have got that wrong as it was a difficult call'. A change of decision here is going to look like the AR was 'forced' into changing his mind. Also having been an AR on many many games I know that sometimes one can doubt the call or no call. Badgering, questioning by players and technical staff sometimes on tight calls can cause an AR to doubt. I recall an important particular call I made some time ago in a game when I ruled out a goal for offside. I have played it over in my head many times and despite trusting my ability I still question myself. I don't get a chance for a re run of the call or technology. I believe I made the correct call based on my experience.
Some final point here from a coaching perspective. Offside should not be attempted here as there is no pressure on the White player with the ball. She had loads of time to look up and make a pass, she also has an onside player in front of her which is another option. Also the defenders as they move out have not done so in a line. This was simply done as an aimless run out to create a high line which as shown can go wrong. One defender is slow moving out and her team mates passes her on the chase back. That can look like that player is playing all opponents onside. It does not appear to me that one of those three Blue players thought there was or looked for offside.
Yes I believe the call was tight. Top AR at the very highest level have got offside calls wrong and that is just part of the game.