Mulbarton Wanderers ordered to replay FA Cup tie after referee error

WHAT HAPPENED
Mulbarton Wanderers have been told to replay their FA Cup second qualifying round tie with Woodford Town after the Football Association found a referee made a technical error over a penalty decision. Mulbarton had won 2-1 at Woodford on Saturday, but the result will not stand.

DECISION DETAILS
In the 30th minute Woodford scored from a penalty, but the referee disallowed the goal for encroachment by a number of Woodford players and awarded Mulbarton an indirect free-kick. Law 14 in the laws of the game states the referee should have ordered the penalty to be retaken. The FA initially said a protest for misapplication of the rules was not permissible, but an FA sub-committee later ruled there had been a technical error and ordered a replay.

REPLAY AND REACTIONS
The replay will be played at Mulbarton on Tuesday, 29 September, with the tie to be decided on the night. Mulbarton, who play in the Isthmian League North and are an eighth-tier side from Norfolk, said the decision is “final and binding and there is no right of appeal” and added the club is “deeply upset and disappointed” by the ruling. Woodford, who play in the ninth tier and are Redbridge-based, thanked the FA for its consideration and for reaching a decision that allows the tie to be concluded according to FA Cup rules.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The winners of the replay will host Gloucester City of the Southern League Premier Division South in the third qualifying round on Saturday, 3 October. Gloucester City — a seventh-tier side — said they understood the situation would be frustrating for supporters who had already made plans.

HISTORICAL NOTE
A non-league fixture in 2006 is thought to be the first English match ordered to be replayed because of a referee error when a successful penalty should have been retaken, and an FA Vase tie was also replayed last season after a referee error over a penalty shootout.