The unusual ‘doble gol‘ incident in a Chinese League One match between Shaanxi Union and Foshan Nanshi on October 13, 2026, has generated discussion about referee decisions. The match, which ended in a 5-1 victory for Shaanxi Union, featured a rare scenario where two balls entered the goal simultaneously during the second half. The match, played at 11:40 a.m. EST, took place on October 13, 2026, and occurred when the score was 2-0 in favor of Shaanxi Union [2].
The incident occurred when Foshan Nanshi’s goalkeeper, Shi Xiaotian, faced two balls in his own area. One was part of the ongoing play, while the other had entered the field from a prior throw-in. Both balls moved toward the goal, but only the official ball was part of the match. Referee Xu Yan disallowed the goal, citing interference from the second ball, and issued a yellow card to Foshan Nanshi player Mame Ndiaye for deliberately launching the extra ball into his team’s defensive area [2]. Ndiaye intentionally directed the second ball toward his own goal, according to the source, which noted that the action altered a potential attacking opportunity.
The Rule That Shaped the Decision
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) rules state that if an additional ball enters the field during play, the referee must stop the game and restart it with a dropped ball if the foreign object interferes with the action. In this case, the second ball traveled parallel to the official ball into the goal, leading the referee to disqualify the goal. The IFAB guidelines also specify that a goal is valid if the official ball enters the net, even if it contacts an external object, unless the attacker causes the interference. The referee’s decision aligned with these rules, as the second ball was deemed to have disrupted the play [2]. According to IFAB’s Rule 5.3, if an additional ball enters the field during play, the referee must stop the game and restart it with a dropped ball if the foreign object interferes with the action.
A Disciplinary Action and a Contested Outcome
Ndiaye’s act of deliberately redirecting the second ball toward his own goal was classified as a disciplinary offense under Rule 12, which addresses unsporting behavior. The yellow card issued to him reflected the referee’s judgment that his action altered a potential attacking opportunity. After the incident, Foshan Nanshi scored to make it 2-1, but Shaanxi Union maintained control, with the final score standing at 5-1 [2].
The Precedent and the Debate
The event highlighted the rarity of such scenarios in professional football. The match’s outcome, however, remained unchanged, with Shaanxi Union securing a decisive win.
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