Mike Riley abandons EPL match

[aevange8]

Sounds like the correct decision based on safety concerns.


From Skysports.com

Referee Mike Riley has explained his decision to abandon Sunderland's match with Fulham.

The official felt he had no option but to bring a halt to the proceedings due to the unseasonal weather in the North East.

Rory Delap was substituted with a suspected broken nose after colliding with team-mate George McCartney, and Riley felt more injuries were inevitable in the slippery conditions as snow showers battered The Stadium of Light.

"The conditions were exceptional for this time of year," he told Sky Sports.

"There was water falling on the pitch and it was not going anywhere. There was a forecast for more of it in the afternoon.

"The players were playing the ball and it was stopping. There was a collision when the players slipped and it was not going to get any better so the likelihood was that someone would get injured. So they were not safe conditions to play in.

"Potentially [I could have called it off beforehand]. You try and be conscious of the spectators who are here, the Fulham fans have travelled a long way, and you want to get a game on if you can. When you get out there, you think the players running around might keep the surface water away and you hope for improvement.

"It just didn't come unfortunately."

Riley explained how he talked to both managers about the decision.

"I talked to them both and explained the situation," he stated. "You could see the conditions and we knew it wasn't right for football.

"I don't think Rory could keep his footing, nor could the player coming towards him, and they clattered into each other. It might be an accident that happens any day but the likelihood was it could happen to someone else, and we don't want to see anyone injured.

"Snow in April is pretty rare. If it's like that, you just have to do it [call it off] unfortunately.

"Hopefully the fans will come back some time in April and see sunshine and a good game of football."

[Englishref]

Riley's pretty unlucky when it comes to calling off matches. That's his second game called off in a few weeks! :D

I haven't seen it yet, but from what I've heard, it was a good decision.

[Chas (Psyatika)]

I saw the highlights a little while ago. It looked pretty bad...that snowstorm was of Januaric proportions. I've seen Bundesliga match survive in snow like that, but i guess the Stadium of Light is quite as accomodating.

[blech]

the field looked a real mess, and he said there had just been a collision with injuries.

unlucky for Brian McBride to have a goal taken off his sheets like that, but certainly seems like a reasonable decision.

[Chas (Psyatika)]

That goal was just pathetic anyway. The ball was in slow motion, the players were in slow motion...he's never getting that goal if the weather weren't miserable.

The status of the match was listed as "suspended", so in theory they could resume from the 21st minute at 1-0. I'd be content with starting over again though, and giving the teams a chance to play 90 minutes to the best of their abilities.

[USSF REF]

It is always better to do this then allow the game to be ruined by terrible conditions that endanger the saftey of the players. There was a match played between Montreal and the Rochester Rhinos last year that had some horrible downpours and caused the field to be covered in large puddles of standing water. The ball wouldn't roll it was so wet, players were just charging into each other and the conditions were terrible.

The problem was, the match was going to determine first place at that point in time, and the Referee told me after the game that he was getting ready to stop the game "in one minute" but I think he meant when the ball was in a neutral position on the field. However, the home team scored in that time period. So he said "gee, if I stop the match now, in USL that means the home team will win and I would have effectively declared the winner and that's how 1st place is going to be decided? Nuh-uh". So, he decided to press on. Late some time in the last 10 minutes, The game was equalized, but the referee felt that because they were so close to the end, you might as well finish it.

Better off having ended the game. Players were hurt and the physical safety of all involved was jeopardized.

One time I didn't follow my own advice though. I had similar conditions in a college match, but the outcome was never in doubt. By the time the field was watter logged, the game had elapsed 58 min and I knew if we could squeeze in 12 more min, the game wouldn't have to be replayed. Which is quite an expense on the teams, plus the drunk Frat kids came out to support the team, and I respect that. So once the 71st minute rolled around, I stopped the match before a Throw-In, and I went to the coaches and told them with the outcome plainly obvious was there any point in risking your players safety? Then I asked them if they were OK with ending the game, and they both seemed happy to end it. Three whistles later and Frat kids were trying to give us beer and pizza. Sometimes the job can have it's moments with the fans. Too bad we had to go to the assessment instead. I'm fairly happy with how that turned out, but I think back to it and I wonder what if a player had really gotten hurt? I would have felt terrible, it may have been better to terminate the match right when I felt that the field was not safe enough.

It is far better to terminate a match played in dangerous conditions than allowing it to continue. Even an EPL match can be abandoned.

[colins1993]

[QUOTE=Chas (Psyatika)]That goal was just pathetic anyway. The ball was in slow motion, the players were in slow motion...he's never getting that goal if the weather weren't miserable.

I thought it was a skillfull, one touch finish with his left foot personally.