2022.4.6
2022 MEIJI YASUDA J２ LEAGUE Sec 8, Montedio Yamagata vs. Fagiano Okayama, Action to Be Taken in Response to the Misapplication of the Laws of the Game
J.LEAGUE has confirmed that, during the matchweek 8, 2022 MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE match between Montedio Yamagata and Fagiano Okayama held on Sunday 3 April (14:00 kickoff / NDsoft Stadium Yamagata), there was a clear misapplication of the Laws of the Game by the referee that could have influenced the final result of the match.
As a result of the deliberations of the extraordinary meetings of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee held on Tuesday 5 April, and having also received the confirmation of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) via the Japan Football Association (JFA), J.LEAGUE has decided to take the following action in relation to the match in question.
■ Match2022 MEIJI YASUDA J2 LEAGUE
| Date | Kickoff | Fixture | Venue |
| Sunday,3 April | 14:00 | Montedio Yamagata | vs. | Fagiano Okayama | NDsoft Stadium Yamagata |
■ Action to Be Taken for the Match
・ J.LEAGUE has determined that, due to the misapplication of the Laws of the Game, Yamagata played the match with one fewer player for approximately 80 minutes, which could have a major impact on the result of the match, and has therefore decided that the match shall be replayed.
・ In the IFAB’s view, although, according to Law 5 of the Laws of the Game, “The decisions of the referee … are final,” because the decision in question was not in line with the Laws of the Game it is not possible to conclude that “The decisions of the referee … are final.”
・ There are no stipulations in any of the regulations of the JFA or J.LEAGUE that apply when a competition is asked to rule on what action should be taken in the case of a match where the decisions of the referee are not treated as final. Because this would be a very important decision-making matter for J.LEAGUE that would determine the outcome of the match, J.LEAGUE decided to hold a meeting of the Board of Directors and resolve the matter in accordance with the J.LEAGUE Board of Directors Regulations.
・ J.LEAGUE will announce the details for how the replay of the match will be implemented and the date and time, etc., once they are decided.
■ Details of the Incident
(1) In the 10th minute of the first half, Montedio Yamagata goalkeeper Masaaki Goto used his hands to stop a ball that was deliberately passed to him by a team-mate.
(2) If a goalkeeper is inside their penalty area and handles a deliberate back-pass from a team-mate, according to the Laws of the Game, there is no disciplinary sanction to the goalkeeper and the game should be resumed with an indirect free kick by the opposing team.
(3) However, the referee misapplied the Laws of the Game and sent Goto off. In addition, neither the assistant referee nor the fourth official corrected the error.
(4) The match continued and ended with a 0-1 victory for Fagiano Okayama.
■ Action to Be Taken for the Player
Although Goto was sent off in the match in question, through the JFA’s Referees Committee, a misapplication of the Laws of the Game was confirmed in the referee’s procedure, and the sending-off will therefore be rescinded.
■Laws of the Game 2021_22
Law 5, The Referee
2. Decisions of the referee
Decisions will be made to the best of the referee's ability according to the Laws of the Game and the ‘spirit of the game’ and will be based on the opinion of the referee, who has the discretion to take appropriate action within the framework of the Laws of the Game.
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final. The decisions of the referee, and all other match officials, must always be respected.
Law 12, Fouls and Misconduct
The goalkeeper has the same restrictions on handling the ball as any other player outside the penalty area. If the goalkeeper handles the ball inside their penalty area when not permitted to do so, an indirect free kick is awarded but there is no disciplinary sanction. However, if the offence is playing the ball a second time (with or without the hand/arm) after a restart before it touches another player, the goalkeeper must be sanctioned if the offence stops a promising attack or denies an opponent or the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
