The field isn't rectangular. What's the ref supposed to do?

[Knave]

As you all probably know, the field at RFK hasn't exactly been rectangular this season. The referee (Mark Geiger) paced it out at the last game, and it appears to have now been confirmed.

What's a referee really supposed to do in a situation like that? Should Geiger have let the match begin, or should he have suspended the game for lack of a regulation field? How is this sort of thing supposed to be handled?

[Alberto]

As you all probably know, the field at RFK hasn't exactly been rectangular this season. The referee (Mark Geiger) paced it out at the last game, and it appears to have now been confirmed.

What's a referee really supposed to do in a situation like that? Should Geiger have let the match begin, or should he have suspended the game for lack of a regulation field? How is this sort of thing supposed to be handled?

Good question. If the field is not rectangular the referee should ask the ground crew to modify the lines on the field. I assume the penalty and goal areas are the proper size. If it cannot be done in time it's really up to the official to let the teams and the league know. I know that for mens and youth matches the lines on the fields are many times attrocious. I tell the teams that due to the lack of markings on the field they need to cut me some slack otherwise we cannot play.

[IASocFan]

It depends on how close to rectangular it is. For any game I've ever been involved in (except as a fan), within 5 to 10 feet of equal length parallel sides or with 5 or 10 degrees of square would have been more than adequate. I would probably note any significant variance and report it after the game. No matter how off-square the field is, it's just like the wind. Each team gets the same chance in each half. Unlike the wind, it's not subject to change at the whims of nature.

[MassachusettsRef]

The short answer, in this situation, is that you do the game.

MLS obviously knew about it beforehand and didn't try to change the venue. If you're assigned to the game, and there's no safety issue (and you want to keep working in MLS), you do the match and--at most--make a note of it in your report.

For lower-level competitions (and more practically, for most here) it gets tricker because of potential protests or other shenanigans between the two teams. A basic rule to follow, I think, is that if both teams agree to play the match, and you see no safety issue, then you officiate the match and send a report to the appropriate authorities.

[Alberto]

The short answer, in this situation, is that you do the game.

MLS obviously knew about it beforehand and didn't try to change the venue. If you're assigned to the game, and there's no safety issue (and you want to keep working in MLS), you do the match and--at most--make a note of it in your report.

For lower-level competitions (and more practically, for most here) it gets tricker because of potential protests or other shenanigans between the two teams. A basic rule to follow, I think, is that if both teams agree to play the match, and you see no safety issue, then you officiate the match and send a report to the appropriate authorities.

Yes, all good points. The teams need to be in agreement with respect to any unusual field condition and yes the field otherwise must be safe.

[Garkbit]

Law 18 says that if both captains/managers/whoevers agree and have no problem with it (if there's more than one game being played at the ground, it might help to have the captains and official(s) from another game witness it being agreed), then you play and report to the competition.

However, Law 1 says that the pitch must meet certain dimensions, with no wriggle room.

And so, like so many other decisions, it comes down to how you balance Law 18 with the rest of them, given the individual circumstances at the time.

[Alberto]

Law 18 says that if both captains/managers/whoevers agree and have no problem with it (if there's more than one game being played at the ground, it might help to have the captains and official(s) from another game witness it being agreed), then you play and report to the competition.

However, Law 1 says that the pitch must meet certain dimensions, with no wriggle room.

And so, like so many other decisions, it comes down to how you balance Law 18 with the rest of them, given the individual circumstances at the time.


FIFA has shown wriggle room in the past most notably during the 1994 world cup. The dimensions of Giants Stadium were not to the minium dimensions as se forth in Law One. FIFA made an exception and not only were group matches played, but also a semi-final as well.

[Garkbit]

Short of the minimum dimensions, or short of the minimum dimensions for internationals?

[Alberto]

Short of the minimum dimensions, or short of the minimum dimensions for internationals?

Short of the minimum dimensions for international matches.

[Garkbit]

That's understandable enough. Would have been less so if the pitch was only 80ydx40yd.