Question Number: 32312

League Specific 3/16/2018

RE: Adult

christos chazapis of Chania, Greece Greece asks...

Goodmorning from Greece. Is it possible to judge if the goal at the paok - aek game was off or onside?? Thanks a lot!!

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Christos
The question has been asked on the site on a number of occasions over the past week
I would recommend that you use the question search function on the right hand side and put in the following question numbers.
It gives the panels view
32302
32303
32305
32308

We await now the outcome of the various investigations being carried out by the authorities.

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

For the purposes of education.

Given it is an OPINION to declare interference with an opponent it can not be argued as incorrect as the match referee opinion is the sole arbitrator of justice and as a fact of play it will stand as the awarded decision provided it was made in accordance with the LOTG.

There was NO restart AFTER the goal even if there appeared to be an INDFK signal shown on camera a bit later that is not to say the goal was not accepted a bit latter whilst the referee was still ON THE FOP after talking it over with his ARs and 4th .

To be CLEAR once the referee abandoned the match by law he CAN NOT change the decision he had made up until that moment before ending the match. NOR can he use video review later in the same manner to change his mind. .

However, as a teaching moment to INSTRUCT referees HOW to form their decisions in REAL TIME!. BASED on the listed criteria of things to be aware of, albeit this was slightly grey, it was more offside than onside and the correct decision would have been OFFSIDE INDFK out. The AR should have flagged it and the CR should have restated with an INDFK in a perfect world. Which apparently at this stadium is indeed a long way off!

From our Pitch to your Pitch in the spirit of Fair Play