Can a referee's decision be appealed, or a match replayed?
Rule- South Africa
- Swimming South Africa
- Water polo
- World Aquatics rules
- All ages
- 2025/26
- Referees
Under World Aquatics rules (Part Six, Articles 3.5 and 3.6):
- All referee decisions are authoritative and final, unless the rules say otherwise. Water polo decisions are not subject to appeal, and a match result isn't invalidated because a decision is later considered wrong.
- A referee may change a decision before the ball is put back into play, or as the rules allow (for example after a video review).
- Differences of opinion between the two referees are not grounds for protest or appeal.
- The Referee may order a match, or part of it, to be replayed if a mistaken decision or omission by any official is found during the match. No replay is allowed for anything discovered after the match ends.
- In a replay, goals, personal fouls and timeouts from the replayed part are deleted, but exclusions for violent action or misconduct and red cards stay on the record.
Added 22 Oct 2026