COCK-UP ref Alan Young has amazingly been let off the hook completely by FA chiefs over his time-keeping clanger.
The official forgot to add on more than four minutes of stoppage time at Leyton Orient on Saturday and faced the wrath of his FA bosses on Monday.
But in a remarkable show of leniency, not only has Young kept his place as fourth official at League One Wycombe Wanderers, he will face no further action over his howler.
Young, who doubles as the Chief Executive of the Bedfordshire FA, failed to add on 4mins and 20 seconds of stoppage time at the end of the first half during Orient's League Two home win over Hartlepool at the weekend.
To make amends he agreed with both managers to play the remaining time BEFORE the start of the second half amid chaotic scenes at the Matchroom Stadium in East London.
It is that quick-thinking and decisive action which has saved him from being hauled over the coals and dropped from the referees' list.
Orient were 2-0 up at the time on the way to a 5-0 win in what was Young's first game of the season.
But the O's social media team seemed bemused by the saga as it unfolded.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
Most read in EFL
They tweeted: “Ermmmmm…… The referee has bought the teams back out after half-time and now opted to play the four minutes of additional time he ignored.
“And then the teams will switch ends.
“Yeah, us neither.”
⚽ Read our Football news live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals
Watch CARNAGE at Plymouth against Bolton with torrential rain causing chaos on pitch in most comical goal of seasonncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErKynZpOke7a3jqynqKqkZLOwu9ObmKWkX2aDd32Rb2dwZ5Ghrq952Kisp59dpL%2Bqsc2tZKGZoqm5przOqKNmmpyqu6Wx0Wapnp6Vp7KmecWaZg%3D%3D