Question Number: 23741

Law 3 - Number of Players 8/5/2010

RE: ALL Other

Chris of SLC, Utah USA asks...

a goal is scored.After the ensuing kick off,the referee realizes that the was scored by the team with 12(apparent) players on the field.Should the goal be disallowed?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

After the kickoff, it's too late. If the twelve players were discovered between the apparent goal being scored and the kickoff, the goal could be disallowed. But the referee only has up until a restart to change any decision.

It would be difficult to determine whether that 12th player was on the field at the time the goal was scored, or if someone ran on in celebration (or in anticipation of a substitution). Only if the referee is absolutely sure of the matter should a goal be disallowed - provided it is discovered in time.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

After the kickoff, the referee has only one option with respect to the goal: report what happened in the match report. But, after the restart of play, the goal must stand. Stop play, remove and caution the extra player, and restart with an IFK to the other team..

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Chris
The answer to this depends on when the extra player has been discovered. If the referee discovers this before play has restarted with a kick off, the goal is disallowed, the extra player is cautioned and removed from the field of play and the restart is an IDFK in the goal area.
If play has restarted then the goal unfortunately must stand. The referee stops play, the extra player is cautioned, she is removed from the field of play and the restart is an IDFK from where the ball was when play was stopped. If play has already stopped it is just the normal restart such as TI, GK etc. In this case the referee must report the fact to the competition organisers who will decide what action, if any, to take.
A substitute or substituted player who runs on the FOP in the celebrations of a goal or who is tardy in leaving afterwards or who perhaps strayed on to the FOP to say collect a loose ball, water bottle etc just before a goal is not an extra player who participated in play. There is a clear distinction and a team cannot use that as a reason for a goal to be disallowed.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Once play has restarted with a kick-off, the goal stands. If the AR noticed this and raised his flag and held it through the entire time the kick-off ensued and THEN the referee notices and stops play, the goal may be called back. However, the AR simply HAS to do whatever necessary to make sure the referee doesn't restart play including running onto the field and grabbing the referee if he has to.