What is being questioned?
Every question in this scenario
The Referee's decisions investigation scenario asks 11 questions and can reach 31 decisions. A walk answers only the ones its own answers lead to. This is the whole set, for reference and for revision.
1What is being questioned?
Decisions are the referee's opinion, made within the framework of the Laws and the spirit of the game.
Answers: A player was injured · Advantage, or two offences at the same time · Something or someone from outside the game interfered · Whether a decision can be changed · What the referee carries, and cameras · Whether a match official can be held liable · What the referee has the power to do, and from when · The whistle: when it is needed and when it is not
2What about the injury?
The general rule about treatment is the one that gets argued about, because it costs the injured player's team a player.
Answers: Whether play should have stopped · Whether the player could be treated on the field · The player was bleeding · Doctors or stretcher bearers came on · The injured player was also being cautioned or sent off · How play restarts
3Was the player seriously injured?
There is no middle ground: play continues if the player is only slightly injured, and stops only if they are seriously injured.
Answers: Yes · No
4Is it one of the six cases Law 5 names?
Six exceptions let the player stay on. Everything else means leaving the field.
Answers: Yes · No
5Which one?
Both are in Law 5's disciplinary and powers list rather than in Law 12, and both are about the referee choosing between things rather than judging an incident.
Answers: The advantage · Two offences at the same time · The card that goes with an advantage, and when it is shown · Whether the referee should have played it at all
6What interfered?
Law 5 gives four worked examples with different answers rather than one rule.
Answers: The floodlights or the conditions · An object thrown by a spectator · A whistle blown by a spectator · An extra ball, another object, or an animal on the field · Unauthorised people trying to come onto the field
7Was the ball going into the goal, with no defender prevented from playing it?
Law 5 carves one case out, and it is the same carve-out Law 3 makes for an extra person.
Answers: Yes · No
8What is in question?
Decisions on facts are final, and Law 5 then writes the narrow circumstances in which one can still change.
Answers: Whether the decision is final · Changing it once play has restarted · The referee was incapacitated
9Which?
Law 5 lists what a referee must carry and then draws a hard line around everything else, in the same shape Law 4 uses for players.
Answers: What the referee must carry · Cameras, headsets and other electronics
10What about the referee's own powers is in question?
Most disputes about authority are answered in Law 5 rather than in Law 12.
Answers: From when until when the referee may card someone · Acting on what another match official saw · The duties themselves: timekeeping, the record, the report
11What about the whistle?
The guidelines are unusual here: they print two lists, one of the moments the whistle is needed and one of the moments it is not, and then say why the second list matters.
Answers: When the referee has to use it · Why play carried on with no whistle · The referee blew it by mistake and play stopped · A restart taken before the whistle
Every decision it can reach
Each one is where a walk ends, with the reasoning it prints. The clause behind a decision is cited on the decision itself, which you reach by walking to it.
Play is stopped, and the player is removed from the field
The referee stops play only if a player is seriously injured and ensures that the player is removed from the field of play. Both halves are the referee's duty: stopping, and making sure the player goes off. Only is doing work in that sentence, since it is what makes the slight-injury rule the default. The guidelines add what the referee does once play is stopped: player safety is of paramount importance and the referee should facilitate the work of the medical personnel, especially for a serious injury or a head injury assessment, which includes respecting and assisting with the agreed assessment and treatment protocols.
Play continues until the ball is out of play
The referee allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is only slightly injured. Not until a convenient moment and not until the ball reaches a safe area: until it is out of play. That is why a player can lie down for some time before the game stops, and it is a rule rather than a referee's choice.
May be treated on the field and stay on
Law 5 calls these the only exceptions to the requirement to leave the field for or after treatment, and prints them as a flat list of six: a goalkeeper injured, a goalkeeper and an outfield player who have collided and need attention, players from the same team who have collided and need attention, a severe injury, a player injured by a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned or sent off, and a penalty kick where the injured player will be the kicker. Reading a purpose into each one is Ruleside's and not the Law's, but the pattern is worth having: most of them are cases where making the player leave would punish the team that was already the victim, either of an opponent's offence or of an accident involving its own players.
Must leave the field to be treated
An injured player may not be treated on the field of play, and where an injury results in play being stopped, or the referee stops play, the player must leave. None of the six exceptions applies, so the treatment happens off the field and the player may re-enter only one minute after play has restarted. The off-field treatment and assessment protocol under Notes and modifications carries the detail.
Off the field, and back only when the referee is satisfied
The referee ensures that any player bleeding leaves the field of play, and the player may only re-enter on receiving a signal from the referee, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped and there is no blood on the equipment. Two separate conditions on the return, and the second is about the kit rather than the wound: a bandaged cut with a bloodied shirt has not met it.
The player must go off, on a stretcher or on foot
If the referee has authorised the doctors or stretcher bearers to enter the field of play, the player must leave on a stretcher or on foot, and a player who does not comply must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour. So a player who waves the stretcher away and carries on has committed a cautionable offence: once the medical staff are on, going off is not optional.
The card is shown before the player leaves
If the referee has decided to caution or send off a player who is injured and has to leave the field for treatment, the card must be shown before the player leaves. Law 5 prints no reason for it, and the sequence around it is what makes it matter: the injured player must leave and may only re-enter one minute after play has restarted, with re-entry from the touchline if the ball is in play and from any boundary line if it is not. So the card is shown while the player is still on the field rather than held until they are allowed back.
A dropped ball, where nothing else caused the stoppage
If play has not been stopped for another reason, or if an injury suffered by a player is not the result of an offence, play is restarted with a dropped ball. So an injury on its own gives the neutral restart, and an injury caused by an offence gives whatever that offence gives instead.
Play on, and go back if the advantage does not come
The referee allows play to continue when an offence occurs, or a restart is incorrectly taken and the ball is in play, and the opposing team will benefit from the advantage, and penalises the offence or orders a retake if the anticipated advantage does not ensue. Two things are worth noticing: advantage covers an incorrectly taken restart as well as an offence, and the fallback for that case is a retake rather than a free kick.
Punish the more serious offence, on four measures
Where more than one offence occurs at the same time, the referee punishes the more serious offence in terms of sanction, restart, physical severity and tactical impact. Four measures rather than one, and they can point different ways: an offence with a lighter card can carry the better restart. Law 5 gives no tie-break between them, so this is a judgement the Laws set up and then leave.
The card waits for the next stoppage, and three offences change what it is
Where the referee plays the advantage for an offence that would have been a caution or a sending-off, the card is issued when the ball is next out of play. Law 12 then departs from that three times. An offence that denied an obvious goal-scoring opportunity is a caution rather than a sending-off, and where the non-offending team scores as a result of the advantage there is no sanction at all. An offence that interfered with or stopped a promising attack is not cautioned. And advantage should not be applied at all for serious foul play, violent conduct or a second cautionable offence unless there is a clear opportunity to score: the player is sent off when the ball is next out of play, but if they play the ball or challenge or interfere with an opponent before that, the referee stops play, sends them off and restarts with an indirect free kick, unless the player committed a more serious offence. Once the referee has decided on a card, play must not restart until it has been shown, unless the non-offending team takes a quick free kick with a clear goal-scoring opportunity and the procedure has not started.
Four things the referee weighs, and only the first of them decides anything
The guidelines say the referee may play advantage whenever an offence occurs, and then print four things to consider in deciding between playing it and stopping play: the severity of the offence, the position where it was committed, the chances of an immediate promising attack, and the atmosphere of the match. Only the first settles a case on its own. Where the offence warrants a sending-off, the referee must stop play and send the player off, unless there is a clear opportunity to score a goal. The other three are reasons rather than rules, and the second is the one that explains the complaint most often made: the closer to the opponent's goal, the more effective the advantage can be, so the same foul is waved on at one end of the field and whistled at the other.
Stop, suspend or abandon
The referee stops, suspends or abandons the match for any offences or because of outside interference, for example if the floodlights are inadequate. Three levels and the choice between them is the referee's, and Law 5 separately protects that choice: a match official is not held liable for a decision that the condition of the field or the weather does or does not allow a match to take place, or to abandon a match for whatever reason.
The referee's choice, on the severity of the incident
If an object thrown by a spectator hits a match official, a player or a team official, the referee may allow the match to continue, or stop, suspend or abandon it depending on the severity of the incident. All four options stay open, which is unusual: this is the one outside-interference example Law 5 leaves entirely to judgement rather than prescribing an answer for.
Play is stopped and restarted with a dropped ball
If a spectator blows a whistle which interferes with play, play is stopped and restarted with a dropped ball. Law 5 prescribes this one rather than leaving it open, and the condition is that the whistle interfered with play: one blown in the crowd that nobody on the field reacted to has not.
Goal
Play is stopped and restarted with a dropped ball only if the extra ball, object or animal interferes with play, unless the ball is going into the goal and the interference does not prevent a defending player playing it, in which case the goal is awarded. The same carve-out appears in Law 3 for an extra person, and the same two conditions govern it: the ball already on its way in, and no defender stopped from clearing.
Stopped only if it interfered, then a dropped ball
Where an extra ball, other object or animal enters the field of play, the referee stops play and restarts with a dropped ball only if it interferes with play. Only is the operative word and it is the same word Law 3 uses for an extra person: something on the pitch that affects nothing does not stop the game, and is removed at the earliest possible opportunity.
The referee allows nobody unauthorised onto the field
The referee allows no unauthorised persons to enter the field of play. It is written as a duty rather than as a sanction, and Law 5 separately protects the judgement involved: a match official is not held liable for a decision, where the referee has the authority, to allow or not to allow any persons including team or stadium officials, security officers, photographers or other media representatives to be present in the vicinity of the field.
Final on facts connected with play
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final. Decisions are made to the best of the referee's ability according to the Laws and the spirit of the game, based on the opinion of the referee, who has discretion to take appropriate action within the framework of the Laws. Ruleside reads facts connected with play as the limit of the finality, so an error about what the Laws require is not made final by it.
A restart decision cannot change, and a card can only in two cases
The referee may not change a restart decision on realising it is incorrect, or on the advice of another match official, if play has restarted or the referee has signalled the end of a half. Disciplinary sanctions run differently: except as outlined in Law 12.4 and the VAR protocol, a sanction may only be issued after play has restarted if another match official had identified and attempted to communicate the offence before the restart. So the restart is closed absolutely, and the card only with the exceptions the sentence names.
Play continues under the other officials until the ball is out of play
If a referee is incapacitated, play may continue under the supervision of the other match officials until the ball is next out of play. The match does not stop instantly and it does not carry on indefinitely: the other officials hold it together to the next natural break.
A whistle, a watch, both cards, and a means of keeping a record
Referees must have a whistle or whistles, a watch or watches, red and yellow cards, and a notebook or other means of keeping a record of the match. Four compulsory items, and the last is written to allow anything that does the job rather than to require paper.
Three permitted things, and nothing else
Referees may be permitted to use equipment for communicating with other match officials such as buzzer or beep flags and headsets, EPTS or other fitness monitoring equipment, and body cameras where the competition organiser supplies them, controls the footage and complies with the relevant guidelines. Referees and other on-field match officials are prohibited from using any other electronic equipment, including cameras, except those body cameras. Accessories may be worn on the same terms as a player's.
Not liable for injury, damage, or any loss from a decision
A referee or other match official is not held liable for any kind of injury suffered by a player, official or spectator, any damage to property, or any other loss suffered by any individual, club, company, association or other body due to any decision taken under the terms of the Laws of the Game. Law 5 then lists what such decisions may include: whether the field or the weather allows a match to take place, abandoning a match for whatever reason, the suitability of the field equipment and the ball, stopping or not stopping for spectator interference, stopping or not stopping to allow an injured player to be removed, requiring an injured player to be removed, allowing or not allowing certain clothing or equipment, allowing or not allowing people in the vicinity of the field, and any other decision taken in accordance with the Laws or in conformity with the official's duties.
From the pre-match inspection to leaving the field, and cards from the start of the match
Law 5 gives two windows rather than one. The authority to take disciplinary action runs from entering the field of play for the pre-match inspection until leaving it after the match ends, including a penalty shoot-out. The power to show a yellow or red card, and to temporarily dismiss a player where competition rules permit, runs from entering the field of play at the start of the match until after the match has ended, including the half-time interval, extra time and the shoot-out. So an offence in the tunnel before kick-off is inside the authority and outside the cards: if a player commits a sending-off offence before entering the field at the start, the referee has the power to prevent them taking part rather than to send them off, and reports any other misconduct.
The referee acts on what the others saw, and it stays the referee's decision
The referee controls the match in cooperation with the other match officials and acts on their advice regarding incidents the referee has not seen. That is why an assistant referee's flag or a fourth official's word can produce a card the referee never witnessed, and it is not a second decision-maker: Law 6 gives the other officials the power to indicate and the referee the power to decide. Against a team official who fails to act responsibly the referee warns, cautions or sends off from the field of play and its immediate surrounds including the technical area, and where the offender cannot be identified the senior coach present receives the sanction. A medical team official sent off may remain if the team has no other medical person available, and may act if a player needs attention.
Enforce, control, time, record, restart, discipline
The referee enforces the Laws of the Game, controls the match in cooperation with the other match officials, acts as timekeeper, keeps a record of the match and provides the appropriate authorities with a match report including disciplinary action and any other incidents before, during or after the match, supervises or indicates the restart of play, and takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offences. The timekeeping duty is the one fans meet most often: the referee is the clock, which is why the fourth official's board shows the minimum the referee intends to play rather than a countdown anyone else runs.
Four moments the whistle is needed
The guidelines list them. To start play, meaning each half of normal play and of extra time, and after a goal. To stop play, for a free kick or a penalty kick, if the match is suspended or abandoned, and at the end of each half. To restart play for a free kick where the appropriate distance is required, and for a penalty kick. And to restart play after it has been stopped for a caution or sending-off, an injury, or a substitution. Note what the first and third lines mean together: a free kick needs the whistle to restart it only where the referee is holding the distance, which is why most free kicks are taken without one.
No whistle was needed, and that is a rule rather than an omission
The guidelines print a second list of when the whistle is NOT needed, and it covers most of what a crowd complains about. It is not needed to stop play for a clear goal kick, corner kick, throw-in or goal, and it is not needed to restart play from most free kicks, or from a goal kick, corner kick, throw-in or dropped ball. The reason is stated in the same place: a whistle used too frequently or unnecessarily will have less impact when it is needed.
Dropped ball
If the referee blows the whistle in error and play stops, play is restarted with a dropped ball. The guidelines state it in one line and attach no sanction and no discretion to it: the whistle stopped play, so play has to be restarted, and a dropped ball is the restart that gives nothing to either side for something neither side did.
The referee has to have said so
Where the referee wants the players to wait for the whistle before restarting, for example while making the defenders retreat 9.15 m (10 yds) at a free kick, the guidelines put the duty on the referee: they must clearly inform the attacking players to wait for it. So a quick restart taken without a whistle is a problem only where that instruction was actually given, which is the thing to establish before anything else.