Question Number: 888

Law 5 - The Referee

RE: High School

Richard of Edmonton, Canada asks...

Green #6 attacker is severely fouled and injured near the edge of the penalty area and has to be removed from further play. No cards are issued and the referee awards a direct free kick and spots the ball directly on the spot where the penalty arc and penalty area lines intercedes. The game ends in a tie but they are ordered by the league to replay the game because a league official viewed the game. Do you understand why this action was taken and did the league official have the right to do so?

Answer provided by Referee miller

The penalty area line is considered to be part of the penalty area. A penal foul committed by the defenders on the penalty area line must result in a PK. The fact that the referee spotted the ball on the PA line indicated his lack of knowledge of the Laws. The competition authorities have the right to take action if they decide the referee has committed an error in interpretation/application of the Laws, but not if they merely disagree with the referee's opinion.

Answer provided by Referee Victor Matheson

A replay can be ordered if a referee has made a mistake by the letter of the law. For example, giving an indirect free-kick for a handball instead of a penalty or giving a direct free-kick instead of a penalty kick for a foul committed on the line of the penalty area. However, in order for the replay to be given the referee must have admitted that the foul was on the line. A replay would not be allowed if a referee called the foul outside the area but a league official watching the match (or a video replay) thought the ball was inside. This is a matter of referee opinion and is not a valid reason for a replay.

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