Law 5: The Referee3. Powers and duties·Page 74, 2026/27 edition

3. Powers and duties

The provision as it is printed, and everything on Ruleside that turns on it.

Disciplinary action
· 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 misconduct
IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, page 74 · clause law-5-fbbd6bd5

Verdicts that turn on it 1

Walk the tree to any of these and this clause is part of the answer.

From the pre-match inspection to leaving the field, and cards from the start of the matchreferee

The Laws of the Game are published by The IFAB and quoted here for the purpose of explaining the decisions on this site. Ruleside is not affiliated with The IFAB or FIFA. Every clause of The Referee that Ruleside cites.