Question Number: 9844

Law 10 - Method of Scoring

Eric of Hopkinton, MA USA asks...

This was a question I saw on Jim Allen's web site, and I can't figure out how his decision could possibly be right. The situation is like this: Team A takes a shot on team B's goal, and the ball is cleared off the line. The AR raises his flag to indicate that a goal was scored in accordance with law 10, but the referee misses it. After this, with no stoppage in play, team B brings the ball to the other side of the field and puts it into team A's goal. After this, but before the kick off, the referee sees the AR's flag who informs him of the original goal. Jim Allen's website claims that the correct decision is to award a goal for team B, not team A. Your thoughts? Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I don't remember seeing this question on Mr. Allen's site. He is the official voice of US Soccer and his answers are to be treated with that full weight of authority. I would have to read the entire question and response. Oftentimes if even a little thing is left out, the answer is confusing.I suspect that since the referee missed the first goal but did see the second, the ball is now out of play and play must be restarted. You should pose the question to Mr. Allen.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The answer is simple once you understand the ball crossed a field boundary and was no longer in play. Once the referee knew that he knows a goal had been scored in accordance with Law 10. The restart of play is a kick off. ..Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Victor Matheson

I haven't seen that question either, but a similar situation in the ATR, the USSF instructs that if a ball goes out of play over the touchline, but the referee misses the flag, after a certain amount of time the AR should simply bring the flag down and allow the game to continue as going back to the original place where the ball was out of play is too disruptive. Applying a similar logic, if the referee misses a ball over the goalline (even if it is for a goal) for too long, the AR should bring down the flag as awarding the original goal would be too disruptive. Not sure I agree but it is logically consistent. Note: before awarding the goal to either team, the referee should be sure to consult with the AR who is closest to the parking lot so that the referee has the greatest chance make a getaway in his car before being killed by one team or the other.