A question for the experts.

[colinlayland]

When I saw that four players were sent off in the Telford v VM game,I thought a game was abandoned when a team went down to seven players?

[fred titmus]

I was always told that a match would be abandoned if one team had 5 sent off.

[Deleted]

I thought it was less than 7 players

[Deleted]

What if another VM player had deliberately got himself sent off and therefore caused the game to be abandoned - would it have been replayed?

[Croc]

Cup game abandoned - third attempt required

From the archive, first published Thursday 23rd Nov 2000.

THE saga of the controversial HFA County Challenge Cup first round tie between Westfields and Wellington took another twist on Saturday when the match was abandoned in extra time.

Referee Andy Williams called a halt to proceedings less than five minutes into the extra period after hosts Wellington were reduced to six men, following four sending-offs and an injury to Jerry Griffiths.

The game will have to be played for a third time this Saturday at Wellington, kick-off 2pm, and all four Wellington men who were dismissed are eligible for the rematch as any suspensions will not come into force for around three weeks.

The scores were locked at 2-2 after 90 minutes on Saturday, but the scoreline took a back seat as a quartet of Wellington players - Andy Morrison, Mark Fish, Willie Lindesay and Mark Cross - saw red. Morrison and Fish were dismissed for the use of bad language, and Lindesay went following two bookings.

Griffiths left the field for hospital treatment to a head injury and, as Wellington had already used all their substitutes, they were left with just seven players.

The dismissal of Cross in extra time, for serious foul play, reduced Wellington to six men and left referee Williams with no choice but to abandon the match.

Williams, from Kingstone, who has experience as an FA Carling Premiership official, penalised Cross for a foul in his own penalty area on Mark Hibbard.

Westfields' Derek Craddock went on to put the ball in the net, but Cross was sent off and a penalty awarded.

However, the match was abandoned before the spot kick could be taken as Wellington had less than the minimum requirement of seven players on the field.

Earlier, Westfields had gone two up through goals from Adi Powell and Mark Hibbard, before a Wellington comeback was initiated with a Peter Wallace header.

The home side were then reduced to eight men, but equalised with a 30-yard screamer from Owen Marriott to take the match into extra time.

The rematch this Saturday will be the third attempt to complete the tie, after the original encounter - won 2-1 with a golden goal by Wellington - had to be played again due to an administrative error. Under HFA rules, golden goals only apply to replays of senior cup matches.

The HFA confirmed that in the event of the rematch finishing level after extra time, a replay would be required.

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www.herefordtimes.com
© Newsquest Media Group 2000

[tim]

Two things from that - ex-City player Mark Hibbard, and the muppet ref Andy Williams who ruined many a City game, and was the only ref I have ever seen who genuinely appeared to be biased towards the opposition time and time again. All refs make decisions you think are a bit dodgy, this bloke never had a decent game, and City never ever benefitted from his incompetence.

[Deleted]

Andy Wiliams, thank god he was graded so highly he can now spend his time ruining Premiership games instead of showing everyone how crap he is at conference level!!!!

[blackpole]

A game can be played as long as there are a minimum 7 players ... seem to remember a game involving Sheffild utd a few years ago, but 7 players on the pitch is fine!

[wh]

tim said:

Two things from that - ex-City player Mark Hibbard, and the muppet ref Andy Williams who ruined many a City game, and was the only ref I have ever seen who genuinely appeared to be biased towards the opposition time and time again. All refs make decisions you think are a bit dodgy, this bloke never had a decent game, and City never ever benefitted from his incompetence.

I have never left SGL with as much anger in me as as I have when he took our games.

I can still see him walking of with that stupid smug grin on his face as the fans by the cage were screaming at the idiot.

[LeedsWCFC]

LAW 3 - The Number of Players

Players
A match is played by two teams, each
consisting of not more than eleven players,
one of whom is the goalkeeper. A match may
not start if either team consists of fewer than
seven players.

Decisions of the International F.A. Board

Decision 1
Subject to the overriding conditions of
Law 3, the minimum number of players in
a team is left to the discretion of national
associations. The Board is of the opinion
however, that a match should not continue
if there are fewer than seven players in
either team.

[colinlayland]

leedswcfc said:

LAW 3 - The Number of Players

Players
A match is played by two teams, each
consisting of not more than eleven players,
one of whom is the goalkeeper. A match may
not start if either team consists of fewer than
seven players.

Decisions of the International F.A. Board

Decision 1
Subject to the overriding conditions of
Law 3, the minimum number of players in
a team is left to the discretion of national
associations. The Board is of the opinion
however, that a match should not continue
if there are fewer than seven players in
either team.

So it looks like seven is the magic number,below that and its called off.

[mazeythe2nd]

I thought if a team had less than seven players then the game is abandoned and the other team are granted a 3-0 win

[tim]

mazeythe2nd said:

I thought if a team had less than seven players then the game is abandoned and the other team are granted a 3-0 win

You'd be wrong on the second part of that then Thos. Awarding a 3-0 win to a team is the decision of the league or competition, not an FA rule.

[mazeythe2nd]

Oh, just thought that because that's what happens on fifa and pro evolution soccer, oh and don't call me thos.

[LeedsWCFC]

mazeythe2nd said:

I thought if a team had less than seven players then the game is abandoned and the other team are granted a 3-0 win

And where would be the sense in that if the team whose lack of players resulted in the abandonment were already 4-0 down?

As is so often the case most supporters' knowledge of the laws of the game comes from TV studio "experts" who know f**k all.

[DazaB]

Stupid rule, if you're stupid enough to get 5 men sent off, make them carry on.

[Deleted]

mazeythe2nd said:

Oh, just thought that because that's what happens on fifa and pro evolution soccer, oh and don't call me thos.

Unfortunately Thos the makers of vid'ya games don't make the laws of football. It is a stupid law nonetheless, and the game should just carry on regardless.