As the Southern League is New Zealand Football competition, as part of the National League they manage the league and the NZF competition manager was down here visiting clubs at the being of the season.
I was at the game which was being played in very strong cold biting winds with driving rain which only got stronger and colder into the second half so in the end I think real concerns around players (and officials) safety due to hypothermia led to the decision, with safely concerns ultimately up to the officials at the game and I doubt any phone call to anyone would have led to any other 'call'. As per the regs delaying the game for up to thirty minutes to see if conditions were going to improve was not an option as the weather was only getting worst.
Several very experienced players from both teams said after they that they had never encountered such harsh conditions.
As I have stated above any ruling will be made in the next few days, no doubt NZF competitions manager will gather relevant information from match officials and clubs before a any final decision is made. Only two options, a replay or result stands.
ClubOrgane the IFAB rules laws state the following for an abandoned match.
7.5 Abandoned match
An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules or organisers determine otherwise.
I was at the game which was being played in very strong cold biting winds with driving rain which only got stronger and colder into the second half so in the end I think real concerns around players (and officials) safety due to hypothermia led to the decision, with safely concerns ultimately up to the officials at the game and I doubt any phone call to anyone would have led to any other 'call'. As per the regs delaying the game for up to thirty minutes to see if conditions were going to improve was not an option as the weather was only getting worst.
Several very experienced players from both teams said after they that they had never encountered such harsh conditions.
As I have stated above any ruling will be made in the next few days, no doubt NZF competitions manager will gather relevant information from match officials and clubs before a any final decision is made. Only two options, a replay or result stands.
ClubOrgane the IFAB rules laws state the following for an abandoned match.
7.5 Abandoned match
An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules or organisers determine otherwise.
In the absence of a local competition rule, you defer to IFAB laws of the game, which will say 90 minutes or as specified by the competition rules…
It would be interesting to know if the referee or host participant contacted the competition manager before abandoning the game. Said competition manager was probably still at Eden Park.
It would be interesting to know if the referee or host participant contacted the competition manager before abandoning the game. Said competition manager was probably still at Eden Park.