# Can a referee score a goal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 9, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782 "2006-07-09T21:41:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![scm1001](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@scm1001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scm1001)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2006, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/1 "2006-07-09T21:41:09Z")
If a ball hit a referee in a soccer game and went in the goal would it count? Has it ever happened? In a similar vein, if a ball rebounded off a referee and set up an attacker who scored, again would it count? ---
**Author:** ![Surbey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@Surbey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Surbey)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2006, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/2 "2006-07-09T21:45:57Z")
IANAR but I think it counts. Something tells me that the ref is considered a part of the field and therefore it would be a goal. But then again, IANAR. ---
**Author:** ![DooWahDiddy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9bcb4/32.png) [@DooWahDiddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DooWahDiddy)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/3 "2006-07-09T21:54:25Z")
[This site](http://www.drblank.com/slaw9.htm) says the ball is still in play if “it rebounds from either the referee or an assistant referee when they are on the field of play”. ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2006, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/4 "2006-07-09T22:28:39Z")
Absolutely. The ref is part of the field, just like a corner flag or a goalpost. (But hopefully more intelligent.) Refs do everything in their power to avoid colliding with the ball or with a player, but if it happens, well, that’s tough. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/5 "2006-07-09T23:14:47Z")
Followup hypothetical question: If a referee were to actively and intentionally score a goal, what would happen? I assume that guy wouldn’t get to referee a single match again for the rest of his natural life, but would the goal stand? ---
**Author:** ![Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/73ab20/32.png) [@Alive\_At\_Both\_Ends](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alive_At_Both_Ends)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/6 "2006-07-09T23:17:33Z")
Yes, if only because it’s up to the referee to decide whether a goal stands or not. But as I said earlier, the ref is part of the field and a goal scored by a rebound off him is as valid as any other goal. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/7 "2006-07-09T23:48:32Z")
You’ll notice that Ref’s very rarely ever enter the penatly box. Most likely for that very reason. ---
**Author:** ![biometricks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@biometricks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biometricks)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/8 "2006-07-10T00:13:50Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > Followup hypothetical question: If a referee were to actively and intentionally score a goal, what would happen? I assume that guy wouldn’t get to referee a single match again for the rest of his natural life, but would the goal stand? Actually, it’s already happened… see story > [@](#): > > \*Monday, 14 January, 2002, 17:11 GMT \* > **Ref scored own goal** > A referee who scored for a team losing 18-1 has resigned after being told by the Football Association that he would be suspended. > Brian Savill said he had not expected to be dealt with so harshly and accused football’s governing body of having no “sense of humour”. > > Although he admits what he did was wrong, Mr Savill, a Royal Mail manager, said he expected at most a “slap on the wrist” and a written warning. > > “It shows refereeing can be enjoyable and that we are not Hitlers running around blowing whistles all the time,” he said. > > **Volleyed goal** > > But after learning that he would be suspended for seven weeks, Mr Savill, from Colchester, Essex, has decided to resign. > > Mr Savill , who has 18 years experience, was refereeing a game between Earls Colne and Wimpole 2000 last September. > > As the ball came off a player’s head, he volleyed it into the back of the net. > > “I shouldn’t have done it, but it was done in the best of humour,” he said. > > Mr Savill was reported by the Essex County Football Association for bringing the game into disrepute. > > "Half of me says I do regret doing it because I did not think it would lead to this. > > “But the other half says I’m glad I did because it brought enjoyment to everyone’s lives.” > > Mr Savill has the right of appeal to the Football Association in London, but said he believes it was pressure from them that “dictated” the decision at county level. > > Phil Sammon, chief executive of Essex County Football Association, said: “We found we came to a fair decision and a fair punishment has been given.” source [BBC News](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1760290.stm) ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/9 "2006-07-10T00:16:28Z")
> [@biometricks](#): > > Actually, it’s already happened… see story > source [BBC News](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1760290.stm) I like that referee :D. ---
**Author:** ![biometricks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecae2f/32.png) [@biometricks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biometricks)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/10 "2006-07-10T00:17:09Z")
And yes, Savill’s goal did count. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/11 "2006-07-10T01:13:12Z")
> [@RetroVertigo](#): > > You’ll notice that Ref’s very rarely ever enter the penatly box. Most likely for that very reason. Actually, officials in soccer games usually use the “diagonal system of control.” Imagine a field aligned north-south. One linesman patrols the western sideline, but only the northern half. Another linesman patrols the southern half of the eastern sideline. The ref then patrols diagonally, from the southwest corner, through midfield, to the northeast corner. It helps insure that the officials have good visual coverage of the field, and the ref very rarely needs to venture into the penalty box. (Former referee talkin’ here.) ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/12 "2006-07-10T12:46:39Z")
> [@Alive At Both Ends](#): > > Absolutely. The ref is part of the field, just like a corner flag or a goalpost. (But hopefully more intelligent.) Refs do everything in their power to avoid colliding with the ball or with a player, but if it happens, well, that’s tough. _Tangent; off on a_ - In Rugby (Union) if the ref is struck by the ball, he (she) immediately stops the game, apologies like mad and awards a scrum to the team that had possession. Grim ---
**Author:** ![Quercus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/7ab992/32.png) [@Quercus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/13 "2006-07-10T14:21:17Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > Followup hypothetical question: If a referee were to actively and intentionally score a goal, what would happen? I assume that guy wouldn’t get to referee a single match again for the rest of his natural life, but would the goal stand? While the referee is the one who gets to decide whether the goal stands, some leagues may have post-game appeal procedures for cases of official mistakes, so if this was a game-deciding goal, the match result could possibly be overturned on appeal. ---
**Author:** ![internetslacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/da6949/32.png) [@internetslacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/internetslacker)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/14 "2006-07-10T14:24:51Z")
What about the sport of boxing? If a boxer uses the referee to beat his opponent, does that count? ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/15 "2006-07-10T17:27:55Z")
I’m curious about how it would show up. I know when a player scores in his/her own goal, it shows up as (for example, with the WC Germany-Portugal game) “Petit (OG)” on the records. If the ref’s name was George, would it show up as “George (ref)” ? I imagine in the bigger leagues there’s software for keeping track of things (team rosters, timer, etc). I wonder if they all allow for a ref’s name to be moved to the “goal” column! ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/16 "2006-07-10T17:36:36Z")
> [@mnemosyne](#): > > I’m curious about how it would show up. I know when a player scores in his/her own goal, it shows up as (for example, with the WC Germany-Portugal game) “Petit (OG)” on the records. If the ref’s name was George, would it show up as “George (ref)” ? No. The ball hitting the ref is the same as the ball hitting the crossbar. ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/17 "2006-07-10T18:03:39Z")
So if, for example, the referee elbowed defender Smith in the head at the top of the penalty arc, stole the ball from him, and blasted it past the stunned goalkeeper into the net, it would be recorded as an own-goal by Smith? (This is getting ridiculous, I realize.) In the case of the goal “scored” by the guy Sevill in the example posted above, was the goal actually recorded as an own goal by the last player to touch it? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/18 "2006-07-10T18:16:00Z")
> [@brad\_d](#): > > So if, for example, the referee elbowed defender Smith in the head at the top of the penalty arc, stole the ball from him, and blasted it past the stunned goalkeeper into the net, it would be recorded as an own-goal by Smith? (This is getting ridiculous, I realize.) > > In the case of the goal “scored” by the guy Sevill in the example posted above, was the goal actually recorded as an own goal by the last player to touch it? Yes it is getting ridiculous. Sevill was fired for good reason. Having the ball _inadvertently_ deflect off the keeper into the goal has no doubt happened. The keeper would not be listed as the scorer. > [@The FA](#): > > Ball in play > The ball is in play at all other times, including when: > > ``` > * it rebounds from a goalpost, crossbar or corner flagpost and remains in the field of play > * it rebounds from either the referee or an assistant referee when they are on the field of play > > ``` Crucially, this rule uses the word ‘rebound’ and equates any striking of an official with hitting the woodwork. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/19 "2006-07-10T18:17:18Z")
Oh, forgot the link: [The website for the English football association, the Emirates FA Cup and the England football team](http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/RulesAndRegulations/FIFALawsOfTheGame/Postings/2002/05/12108.htm) ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782/20 "2006-07-10T23:53:44Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > > [@mnemosyne](#): > > > > I’m curious about how it would show up. I know when a player scores in his/her own goal, it shows up as (for example, with the WC Germany-Portugal game) “Petit (OG)” on the records. If the ref’s name was George, would it show up as “George (ref)” ? > > No. The ball hitting the ref is the same as the ball hitting the crossbar. So what happens if the referee is the first and only person to touch the ball? That is, say it is the kickoff at the beginning of the game; before either player has a chance to touch the ball, the referee snatches it away and scores a goal. Who would be listed as the scorer then? A bigger quandry (which is even less likely to happen) would be if, at kickoff, both teams refrained from touching the ball, and the wind simply blew the ball into one of the goals. In this case you couldn’t even put down the referee’s name as the scorer, since no one had touched the ball prior to its entering the goal. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-a-referee-score-a-goal/363782.md?page=2)