The FA has ordered a replay of the FA Cup second qualifying round match between Mulbarton Wanderers and Woodford Town after concluding that the referee made a technical error during the game. Mulbarton had won the original fixture 2-1, but the result will now be overturned.
Referee error under Law 14
In the first half, Woodford scored from a penalty, but the goal was ruled out for encroachment. FA rules state that in the event of encroachment, the penalty should be retaken or a goal awarded. Instead, the referee awarded a free-kick to Mulbarton.
Woodford lodged a protest after the match, and a sub-committee has now ruled that the match will be replayed on Tuesday. The winners will take on Gloucester City in the third qualifying round.
Mulbarton's response
Responding to the ruling on social media, Mulbarton released a statement saying: "Following the conclusion of our FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round fixture versus Woodford Town on Saturday 19th September, a protest was lodged with the FA by Woodford Town regarding a decision made by the referee during the 30th minute of the match."
The statement continued: "The referee awarded Woodford a penalty kick, which was scored. The referee then blew his whistle and awarded Mulbarton Wanderers an indirect free-kick due to the encroachment of a number of Woodford players into the penalty area. This was an incorrect application of the competition rules under Law 14. In these circumstances, the referee should have allowed the goal to stand or ordered a retake."
Mulbarton said the FA initially stated that a protest for misapplication of the rules was not permissible, but following further objection from Woodford, the matter was referred to a sub-committee of the Professional Game Board. The club said it made robust representations to the FA setting out why the result should stand.
Decision and reaction
Mulbarton said: "Following the meeting of the sub-committee, we have been informed that it has been ordered that the second qualifying round fixture is to be replayed at the Abode Arena on Tuesday, September 29. The club is deeply upset and disappointed by this decision, the impact that it will have upon our football club, and the potential wider implications regarding the finality of results for any FA Cup match in the future played by any team and the integrity of the game as a whole. The decision made by the sub-committee is final and binding, and there is no right of appeal."
In their own statement, Woodford, who are one tier below their opponents, said: "The club raised concerns regarding the application of Law 14 after a penalty awarded to Woodford was scored but subsequently disallowed, with an indirect free-kick awarded to the opposition for encroachment. The matter was subsequently reviewed by an FA sub-committee, with correspondence and video footage from Woodford Town, information from Mulbarton Wanderers, observations from the match officials and comments from the FA Referees Team and Head of Refereeing all considered. The sub-committee concluded that a technical error had been made by the referee, determining that the correct outcome under Law 14 should have been either the awarding of the goal or the ordering of a penalty retake. Woodford Town FC would like to thank the FA for its thorough consideration of the matter, and for reaching a decision that ensures the tie can be concluded in accordance with FA Cup rules."
