Question Number: 29498

League Specific 6/25/2015

RE: Rec Adult

Matt Arruda of Kelowna, British Columbia Canada asks...

Hello,

We have had a situation where a ball other than the 'original' game ball was grabbed and used in a game. Once this happened a goal was scored (tying the game 1-1. However,after the linesman notice and brought this to the referee's attention, the goal was overturned.

Below is the rationale that was given from the league with respect to the situation and how they came to a decision to actually award the 1-1 goal even after the game continued at 1-0 for 8 more minutes before the final whistle was blown ending at 1-0.

What are your thoughts?

The recommended findings: The committee, in a rare move overturned the referees decision and awarded the goal and the tie.
The reasoning: 1)The rules of the game state that the referee is in charge of all equipment but is not required to inspect a ball. 2) Balls had gone out of play numerous times throughout the game and substitute balls had been used, none of which were inspected by the referee and neither team had complained. 3)An Alves Brothers player who was on the bench and noticing the ball was way out of play provided the new ball to the Titan Celtic player who then through it into play.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Matt
Very rare and unusual decision which I think could be appealed to a higher authority as there are two fundamental error in the recommended findings in that the referee is responsible for all equipment including the match ball which may not be changed during the match without the authority of the referee plus even if the ball was changed multiple times perhaps the ball that was used to score the goal was defective or did not meet the required match ball standard. To quote Law 2 * The ball may not be changed during the match without the authority of the referee* while Law 5 states that * The referee ensures that any ball used meets the requirements of Law 2*.
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.
Now we all have situations where a match ball is substituted during play for another ball. The assumption is made that the substituted ball meets the requirements of Law 2 and therefore is never challenged. The referee generally accepts that change unless the ball is shown to be say defective, wrong size etc at that time. It is not clear if that was the case here or whether he simply responded erroneously to an appeal by the conceding team under advice from the AR?
Now once the referee made the decision not to award the goal due to the match ball situation that in my opinion was the referees decision to make and once play restarted it was final. I have never heard of a situation where a goal was awarded after the game by a League. Had the referee awarded the goal it would have a bearing on the last eight minutes with many scenarios playing out.
Personally I think that there were only two options available to the League which were to allow the result to stand or to decide that the referee made an error in law which would mean that the tie should be replayed in full. Those are the only two equitable decisions in my opinion.
Have a look at this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph32EGdPQGg
The referee awarded the goal based on what he saw. Could one imagine the Bundesliga disallowing the goal to make the result 1-0? Not possible and it did not happen nor should it. It was clearly an error yet the Laws require that it is accepted unless it can be shown that the referee made an error in Law and in those cases the decision can be a replay.
Now what are the lessons in here for other referees.
1. In the situation where there is one match ball that should be used at all times
2. If the competition rules allow for multiple balls then the referee should inspects all the ball that are to be used. In some Leagues that I officiate on teams provide two match ball each. I try to check those before the game if I can otherwise I simply accept the ball that is provided unless I get a complaint during play that it is underinflated, defective etc. I will certainly not entertain a call for a goal to be ruled out because the ball was not the original match ball unless it can be shown to have burst before entering the goal.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Matt,

The Laws of the Game state that the referee's decision is final. I would argue that the committee doesn't actually have the power, under the LOTG, to 'reinstate' the goal.
Especially given the fact that the game continued after this, so it had an unknowable impact upon the game.

However, I don't believe the referee made the correct decision; while he is certainly within his rights to delay the restart of play to inspect a fresh ball or to instruct the players to wait for one of the 'appointed' balls, given he allowed play to start and a goal was scored, I would argue he can only disallow the goal if he believes the ball was actually faulty before it was scored. And it would have to be significantly faulty to justify that.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Matt,
the decisions to award a goal and the match outcome as facts of play are under the sole power of and authority of the referee including a decision as to the suitability of the field equipment and ball used during a match!

WHY was the goal being denied???

You also use the word linesman not AR? There is a difference in the AR is classified as a neutral observer to add input to the CR where a 'linesman' is not considered neutral ( identified more as a friend or relative of the teams playing) and their input is not sought to overturn decisions.

Was the referee never aware more than one ball was being used?
If a ball was kicked out of play and it was previously accepted that new (other)balls were being introduced to speed up play as the other was recovered, this decision by the referee to take away the goal makes no sense to me? Likely it made equally no sense to the review committee as well!

How was the ball introduced INTO THE MATCH?
Did it came flying in from another field or trickled onto the field thus suddenly there were two balls and the actual match ball was kicked out to make room to play that other ball? THAT is an issue!

I would find it odd that if other balls were accepted as match balls when the first ball exited the field how was this ball that entered into play different? Was it only one teams responsibility to supply the match balls? Did the ball belong to the team that scored (not in charge of providing the match balls)and resulted in a quick restart /goal?

Law 2 states the ball may not be changed during the match without the authority of the referee (Yet if switches were made earlier how is THIS switch different??) while Law 5 states that the referee ensures that any ball used meets the requirements of Law 2. (If upon inspection the goal was scored with say a number 4 size ball instead of the proper size 5 if could justify revoking the goal as play was not legal.)

Once a match is over so ends the responsibility of the referee for decisions. His decisions on facts of play are final he can not change them that is his judgement, his integrity!

A committee or association though can decide to alter the match outcome based on their view of the LOTG and whether the referee erred in any points of law that is their judgment and their integrity now in question.

I have difficulty understanding their interpretation of the LOTG in resetting the match to 1 to 1? I think ordering a replay is a better decision if they feel the referee erred in law!

If this decision was made locally it is possible to bring the matter to the CSA for further review if the league is under their charter? But to bring protests or have such a decision appealed there is a cost involved to file and likely a limited timeframe to do so.

Just as it is important not to permit illegal goals from counting. It is always a shame when a good goal is stricken from the match over misunderstanding of LOTG.
Cheers