Question Number: 29402

Law 5 - The Referee 5/12/2015

RE: Adult

Pew of Takak, Tasman New Zealand asks...

Hi, we were involved in a match that was abandoned at 81 mins with the score standing at 0-0. On of our players got badly injured in the penalty box. We were advised not to move him until an ambulance arrived. Play obviously could not continue. After 15 mins of waiting for the ambulance the referee informed us that he was calling the match finished and that the result would stand. We said 'ok', he went to inform the other team but they refused to accept it. After a further 10 mins he said he had decided to abandon the match as the other team refused to comply with his decision and leave it up to the authority to decide. The ambulance arrived and our player was removed 40mins after the injury occurred.

The authority now informs us that the game must be replayed because it was abandoned, according to fifa rules they say.

Am wondering if the referee had the authority to call the match as he wanted to in the first place and if he did, did the other team have the right to refuse?

His reason for abandoning the match eventually was that the other team would not agree to the draw, this surely is not a good enough reason? Even the delay waiting for the ambulance is surely not a good enough reason to abandon?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Pew
First point is that the referee had no authority to call the matched finished and say that the result would stand. That is entirely a matter for the competition authority. All the referee can do is report the circumstances in his match report.
Now the referee had complete authority to abandon the game for any reason. The reasons can include weather, poor light, light failure, safety concerns or in this case a lengthy delay which would have an adverse effect on the players. I know in some games with a serious injury players may not wish to continue perhaps traumatised by the serious injury and concern for a team mate. One also has to consider that in lower levels of the game other factors such as the referee, players may need to be elsewhere such as work, travel arrangements have to be taken in account. In the Pro game a different approach would be taken.
Having said all that some referees I have no doubt have acted outside their authority due to exceptional circumstances in games that neither team wanted to replay perhaps an end of season game with nothing to play for with additional cost and expenses. It is possible that on the agreement of both team that the game would be reported as completed with the facts included in the match report.
In a recent game I was asked by two teams on a particularly inclement night not to play extra time in a youth cup game and to go straight to penalty kicks. Both teams were extremely cold, wet with no appetite to continue. In the circumstances and with complete agreement of both teams the game was completed by kicks from the penalty mark without extra time being played. If one team did not agree then the extra time would have been played. I reported the game as won on penalties and that was the end of the matter.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Pew,
first off I hope your injured player is ok and is back playing?
A referee in consultation with the two teams prior to the match beginning can make certain alterations to the time line, even the halftime duration or extra time to accommodate say fading light, weather conditions or deteriorating pitch conditions where safety is an issue but UNLESS there is a designated clause within your associations bylaws that designate a match played to a certain point could be accepted as a fulltime result, under FIFA LOTG, the match is to be replayed!

I will disagree with your 2nd premise that the trauma of the injury situation was insufficient reason for the referee ...not... to abandon the match
Although, I have difficulty in understanding by what competition bylaw could the referee be using to imagine he can call the match a draw or force teams to accept such a result?? I do agree with your other premise that the opposing team refusal to accept a draw is NO reason to abandon.

It is certainly within the referee's authority to abandon the match for the trauma and time delay! With recreational level matches, the reality of life may force itself for those concerned with an outcome to deviate from accepted protocols. The essence of time and the field use or the the need for other teams in a tournament say, to continue through the competition, referees are often given additional powers as there is NO time to consider other options. In league play the review committee may have time to decide other options as in this replay of your match.

FIFA QUOTE LAW 7 Match Duration
Periods of play
The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually
agreed between the referee and the two teams. Any agreement to alter the
duration of the periods of play (e.g. to reduce each half to 40 minutes because
of insufficient light) must be made before the start of play and must comply
with competition rules.
Half-time interval
Players are entitled to an interval at half-time.
The half-time interval must not exceed 15 minutes.
Competition rules must state the duration of the half-time interval.
The duration of the half-time interval may be altered only with the consent of
the referee.
Abandoned match
An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules provide
otherwise. END QUOTE