Question Number: 35745

High School 10/8/2024

RE: High School

Angel of Glassboro , New jersey US asks...

Can a ref take back a goal if he forgot to blow the whistle to end the game.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Angel,
usually high school soccer has a count down timer and horn to signal match end where if the ball has not yet completely crossed the goal line under the crossbar between the posts no goal will count. If that was inoperative and the timer showed the match was over prior to the goal I assume the referee does not allow the goal. Or if he did the rules committee would take some form of action to ensure a fair result?

In cases where the referee is the sole arbiter of time, it is plausible that a broken watch or a busted whistle might cause a delay in signalling & thus a goal could be called off as match time had already expired! To be oblivious and not pay attention or perhaps get the match duration time incorrect no referee is going to escape a withering commendation once the reality of the oops is brought to light.

Where a problem might be is if it went unnoticed that time had expired and a goal resulted in a restart kick off, play on and then, Hey wait a minute my watch stopped!!! Unless you can have absolute neutral input that most definitely the match was over before that goal was achieved things are likely to go to a protest situation if it affected the results.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe Manjone

Hi Angel,

Your question is covered by NFHS (High School) Rule 7-1-4. This rule states: A period shall end at the expiration of time. The only exception is play can be extended to permit a penalty kick to be completed.

Thus, the answer to your question is yes. The referee can take back a goal if time had expired before the goal had been made.

I have seen this happen several times because the referee who was keeping time on the field go so involved with play that she/he forgot to look at the watch to see time had expired. This rule was made to protect a team who had rightfully won the game from losing it because of referee error.

I hope your team gets to play in the finals at Franklin High School in November.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Angel
There are two answers here depending on the code.

Referee Manjone has given the NFHS answer. Time in those games is strictly managed so when time expires no further play is allowed.

In FIFA games timing is solely the remit of the referee. Most referees in FIFA games adopt a guesstimate on added time rather than the method of time off / time on so play gets extended by an amount of time determined by the referee. A few additional seconds can be found by many referees to see a play out.
I would safely say that most FIFA game referees would not take a goal back if it happened before the final whistle. I have seen referees make mistakes in the length of games at Underage by playing 35 instead of 30 or playing 35 instead of 40. All that can be done there is to report the error to the competition organisers. Some don't bother so it is left to a team to protest.
Many are of the view that play continues to the final whistle whenever that comes. Playing too little would be viewed more negatively than playing too much due to how added time can be calculated in FIFA games.