When can a referee award a point retroactively?

A referee can award a point retroactively in cases where the action was not originally ruled correctly. This situation often arises when the referee realizes that an error was made in the decision-making process during the bout, such as failing to recognize a valid hit or calling an invalid hit as valid. The rules of fencing allow for corrections to be made to ensure that the score reflects the actual events of the match.

Retroactive points can help maintain the integrity of the competition and ensure that the outcome is fair and just. It is important for referees to make these changes promptly and transparently to uphold the standards of the sport. The other circumstances mentioned, such as the agreement of both fencers, only allowing a point to be awarded at the end of the match, or during the warm-up phase, do not align with the standard practice and rules governing the awarding of points in fencing.