What must happen if the ball strikes a referee in play and goes into the goal?

If a ball strikes the referee during active play and subsequently enters the goal, the goal is disallowed. This is because the Laws of the Game state that if the ball touches a referee or another match official while in play and then goes into the goal, the game is considered to be interrupted. The play is halted at the moment the ball hit the referee, and the attacking team's subsequent goal cannot be recognized.

In this scenario, the proper course of action is to restart the game through a dropped ball. The rules are designed to ensure that the game remains fair and uninterrupted by external elements, including match officials. This rule emphasizes the importance of maintaining the integrity of the play and the significance of such occurrences in the flow of the game.