Mulbarton win ordered FA Cup replay 2-0

An FA sub-committee has ordered Mulbarton Wanderers and Woodford Town to replay their FA Cup qualifying tie after finding a technical error by the referee, BBC Sport reported. Mulbarton won the original match 2-1, but Woodford lodged a protest over the handling of a disallowed penalty. The replay is scheduled for Tuesday. [1]

Woodford scored from the penalty, only for the referee to rule out the goal because attacking players had encroached. The referee then awarded Mulbarton an indirect free-kick. [1]

BBC football issues correspondent Dale Johnson explains that, even if the decision to disallow the goal could be justified, the penalty should have been retaken. The crucial distinction is between applying the laws incorrectly and making a subjective judgement, such as awarding a disputed penalty. [1]

Mulbarton said they were “deeply upset” and warned that the replay decision could have wider implications for the finality of results and the integrity of the game. Woodford welcomed the ruling, saying it “ensures the tie can be concluded in accordance with FA Cup rules”. [1]

There is already an FA Cup precedent

A replay following a rules error is not unprecedented. Bridlington Town were required to replay a 2-1 FA Cup win over Knaresborough last year after the officials wrongly refused Knaresborough a fifth substitute during extra time. That case concerned substitution rules rather than a penalty restart. [1]

The distinction also matters when considering VAR controversies. IFAB’s VAR protocol says that wrong decisions involving VAR and malfunctions of the technology do not invalidate a match, as quoted by BBC Sport. Those provisions concern VAR errors, rather than a blanket rule covering every possible reason for ordering a replay. [1]

The winners of the replay are scheduled to host Gloucester City, who play in the Southern League Premier Division South, in the third qualifying round on Saturday, 3 October.