Law 5: The Referee
The 78 provisions of this law that Ruleside argues from, in the order they are printed. Each one has its own address and lists every verdict, incident and rules page that turns on it.
Jump to a section (8)
1. The authority of the referee
2. Decisions of the referee
- Decisions will be made to the best of the referee's ability according to the Laws of the Game and the ‘spirit of the game' and will be based on the opinion of the referee, who has the discretion to take appropriate action within the framework of the Laws of the Game.p73 · cited by 4 pages
- Competitions may use technology to assist the referee in making or changing decisions in relation to:p73 · cited by 10 pages
- the VAR protocolp73 · 1
- ball in/out of play, including through the use of goal line technology (GLT)p73 · 5
- offside, including through the use of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT)p73 · 7
- 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. The decisions of the referee, and all other match officials, must always be respected.p73 · cited by 4 pages
- The referee may not change a restart decision on realising that it is incorrect or on the advice of another match official if play has restarted or the referee has signalled the end of the first or second half (including extra time) and left the field of play or abandoned the match. However, if at the end of the half, the referee leaves the field of play to go to the referee review area (RRA) or to instruct the players to return to the field of play, this does not prevent a decision being changed for an incident which occurred before the end of the half.p73 · cited by 2 pages
- Except as outlined in Law 12.4 and the VAR protocol, a disciplinary sanction may only be issued after play has restarted if another match official had identified and attempted to communicate the offence to the referee before play restarted; the restart associated with the sanction does not apply.p74 · cited by 2 pages
- If a referee is incapacitated, play may continue under the supervision of the other match officials until the ball is next out of play.p74 · cited by 1 page
3. Powers and duties
- enforces the Laws of the Gamep74 · 2
- controls the match in cooperation with the other match officialsp74 · 3
- acts as timekeeper, keeps a record of the match and provides the appropriate authorities with a match report, including information on disciplinary action and any other incidents that occurred before, during or after the matchp74 · 1
- supervises and/or indicates the restart of playp74 · 1
- 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/orders a retake if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time or within a few secondsp74 · 37
- punishes the more serious offence, in terms of sanction, restart, physical severity and tactical impact, when more than one offence occurs at the same timep74 · 3
- takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offencesp74 · 2
- has the authority to take disciplinary action from entering the field of play for the pre-match inspection until leaving the field of play after the match ends (including penalties (penalty shoot-out)). If, before entering the field of play at the start of the match, a player commits a sending-off offence, the referee has the authority to prevent the player taking part in the match (see Law 3.6); the referee will report any other misconductp74 · 1
- has the power to show yellow or red cards and, where competition rules permit, temporarily dismiss a player, from entering the field of play at the start of the match until after the match has ended, including during the half-time interval, extra time and penalties (penalty shoot-out)p75 · 3
- takes action against team officials who fail to act in a responsible manner and warns or shows a yellow card for a caution or a red card for a sending-off from the field of play and its immediate surrounds, including the technical area; if the offender cannot be identified, the senior coach present in the technical area will receive the sanction. A medical team official who commits a sending-off offence may remain if the team has no other medical person available, and act if a player needs medical attentionp75 · 2
- acts on the advice of other match officials regarding incidents that the referee has not seenp75 · 1
- allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is only slightly injuredp75 · 3
- stops play only if a player is seriously injured and ensures that the player is removed from the field of play. An injured player may not be treated on the field of play and, where an injury results in play being stopped or the restart of play being delayed, the injured player must leave the field of play and may only re-enter one minute after play has restarted;* if the ball is in play, re-entry must be from the touchline but if the ball is out of play, it may be from any boundary line. The only exceptions to the requirement to leave the field of play for and/or after treatment are when:p75 · 7
- a goalkeeper is injuredp75 · 2
- a goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided and need attentionp75 · 2
- players from the same team have collided and need attentionp75 · 2
- a severe injury has occurredp75 · 2
- a player is injured as the result of a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned or sent off (e.g. reckless or serious foul challenge)p75 · 2
- a penalty kick has been awarded and the injured player will be the kickerp75 · 2
- ensures that any player bleeding leaves the field of play. 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 equipmentp76 · 1
- if the referee has authorised the doctors and/or stretcher bearers to enter the field of play, the player must leave on a stretcher or on foot. A player who does not comply must be cautioned for unsporting behaviourp76 · 1
- if the referee has decided to caution or send off a player who is injured and has to leave the field of play for treatment, the card must be shown before the player leavesp76 · 1
- 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 ballp76 · 1
- * See ‘Off-field treatment and assessment protocol' under ‘Notes and modifications'.p76 · cited by 1 page
- Outside interferencep76 · cited by 9 pages
- stops, suspends or abandons the match for any offences or because of outside interference e.g. if:p76 · 8
- the floodlights are inadequatep76 · 1
- an object thrown by a spectator hits a match official, a player or team official, the referee may allow the match to continue, or stop, suspend or abandon it depending on the severity of the incidentp76 · 1
- a spectator blows a whistle which interferes with play – play is stopped and restarted with a dropped ballp76 · 1
- an extra ball, other object or animal enters the field of play during the match, the referee must:p76 · 4
4. Video assistant referee (VAR)
- The use of video assistant referees (VARs) is only permitted where the match/ competition organiser has fulfilled all the implementation requirements as set out in the VAR Handbook, and has received written permission from FIFA.p77 · cited by 2 pages
- The referee may be assisted by a video assistant referee (VAR) only in the event of a ‘clear and obvious error' or ‘serious missed incident' in relation to:p77 · cited by 26 pages
- goal/no goalp77 · 5
- penalty/no penaltyp77 · 3
- red card (including a clearly incorrect second caution)p77 · 6
- mistaken identity when the referee cautions or sends off the wrong playerp77 · 5
- clearly incorrectly awarded corner kick if the decision can be changed immediately and without delaying the restart (competition option)p77 · 12
- The assistance from the video assistant referee (VAR) will relate to using replay(s) of the incident. The referee will make the final decision which may be based solely on the information from the VAR and/or the referee reviewing the replay footage directly (‘on-field review').p77 · cited by 1 page
- Except for a ‘serious missed incident', the referee (and where relevant other ‘on-field' match officials) must always make a decision (including a decision not to penalise a potential offence); this decision does not change unless it is a ‘clear and obvious error'.p77 · cited by 3 pages
Reviews after play has restarted
5. Referee's equipment
Other equipment
- Equipment for communicating with other match officials – buzzer/beep flags, headsets etc.p78 · 1
- EPTS or other fitness monitoring equipmentp78 · 1
- Body cameras if the competition organiser supplies the cameras, has control of the footage and complies with the relevant guidelines. The cameras may include microphones, which cannot be used to broadcast communication with the video assistant referee (VAR). Camera footage and sound may be used by the appropriate authorities for disciplinary matters.p78 · 2
7. Liability of match officials
- any kind of injury suffered by a player, official or spectatorp81 · 1
- any damage to property of any kindp81 · 1
- any other loss suffered by any individual, club, company, association or other body, which is due or which may be due to any decision taken under the terms of the Laws of the Game or in respect of the normal procedures required to hold, play and control a matchp81 · 1
- that the condition of the field of play or its surrounds or that the weather conditions are such as to allow or not to allow a match to take placep81 · 2
- to abandon a match for whatever reasonp81 · 2
- as to the suitability of the field equipment and ball used during a matchp81 · 1
- to stop or not to stop a match due to spectator interference or any problem in spectator areasp81 · 1
- to stop or not to stop play to allow an injured player to be removed from the field of play for treatmentp82 · 1
- to require an injured player to be removed from the field of play for treatmentp82 · 1
- to allow or not to allow a player to wear certain clothing or equipmentp82 · 1
- 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 of playp82 · 2
- any other decision taken in accordance with the Laws of the Game or in conformity with their duties under the terms of FIFA, confederation, national football association or competition rules or regulations under which the match is playedp82 · 1
Provisions this site does not cite are not listed, so this is not a copy of the Laws. The full text is published by The IFAB. All laws.