Question Number: 35749

Law 7 - The Duration of the Match 10/12/2024

RE: EDP Under 11

ryan n atkin of Eden, MD United States asks...

Was playing in a tournament with 25 minute halves. Play continued after the 25 minute mark with no whistle. After 1 minute, I mentioned to the head ref that we were running over, he let play continue and within seconds we had scored a goal. He then blew the half time whistle. Afterwards, they disallowed the goal stating that halftime happened already.

Was this the correct call? Can a ref just take away a goal because he forgot to blow the whistle for half-time?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ryan
Thanks for the question.

In many tournaments play is fixed by competition rule to a set time with no added time. So if a half is set for 25 minutes play ends at that time.

I suspect what has happened here is that the referee did not realise the 25 minute half had fully expired and then when it was highlighted it was decided that anything after the 25 minute mark should be null and void.
Obviously that is not satisfactory yet in a tournament with this rule it is a matter of fact not a discretionary decision by a referee.

In a regular game a referee could no doubt add on time for injuries, substitutions, other lost time reasons and the half / game ends when the referees signals for the half / game to end. So in this example in a regular game a referee could add on one minute of added time and then blow the whistle. A goal scored during that added time period would count.

Where a competition rule exists in a tournament that there cannot be added time it will be argued that anything that happened after the set time has expired should be null and void.
It could also be the case that a referee is not familiar with timing in competition rules and that there is no timing discretion like in regular games. In a regular game a referee simply says that time was added on for lost time while that is not possible here.

While unsatisfactory it is a matter pf fact that the goal was scored after the 25 minute half had fully expired. The decision hinges on a competition rule.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Ryan,

If the match time has CLEARLY expired, then the goal should not be permitted!
If a referee is in error and it is a FACT that can be neutrally confirmed the match time was exceeded and then a goal(s) were scored the RC might arbitrarily change the outcome to comply with their special conditions.

While it is within the LOTG for a referee to normally add for lost time, often specialized tournament play is hampered by the multiplicity of a lack of time & playing fields over a weekend of very regulated play. Thus there do not want additional time to be added given the matches are scheduled far too close together and the fields available are under heavy use. These stipulations are usually within their RC (Rules Committee) documents that outline the tournament special considerations of running time clocks to be the norm!

A referee is not the one to take away a goal or change a result, that is up to the RC to decide such things. What a referee can do is upon immediately realizing the goal scored occurred after the half or match had already expired is not count the goal and end the match under some controversy of course providing no restart/kick off was awarded. Be it a broken watch, busted whistle or simply forgetfulness a neutral opinioned referee, knowing the match was expired BEFORE the ball had completely crossed the goal line under the crossbar and between the posts can choose to not count that goal, in his report stating why of course.

Where as if the referee awards the goal, then permits a restart with kick off then goes oh crap he would include the score but again record the incident. Here is where the RC could step in and nullify the goal based on their tournament criteria.

I have seen a complex of adjoining fields be started at the same time by the use of a horn to start and end matches rather than an arbitrary referee whistle, to avoid chances of permitting a few extra minutes for some games and not others.
Cheers