Law 6: The Other Match Officials
The 33 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.
- Other match officials (two assistant referees, a fourth official, two additional assistant referees, a reserve assistant referee, a video assistant referee (VAR) and at least one assistant VAR (AVAR)) may be appointed to matches. They will assist the referee in controlling the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game but the final decision will always be taken by the referee.p85 · cited by 3 pages
- The referee, assistant referees, fourth official, additional assistant referees and reserve assistant referee are the ‘on-field' match officials.p85 · cited by 1 page
- The VAR and AVAR are the ‘video' match officials (VMOs) and assist the referee in accordance with the Laws of the Game and the VAR protocol.p85 · cited by 1 page
- The match officials operate under the direction of the referee. In the event of undue interference or improper conduct, the referee will relieve them of their duties and make a report to the appropriate authorities.p85 · cited by 3 pages
- The other ‘on-field' match officials assist the referee with offences when they have a clearer view than the referee and they must submit a report to the appropriate authorities on any serious misconduct or other incident that occurred out of the view of the referee and the other match officials. They must advise the referee and other match officials of any report being made.p85 · cited by 1 page
- The ‘on-field' match officials assist the referee with inspecting the field of play, the balls and players' equipment (including if problems have been resolved) and maintaining records of time, goals, misconduct etc.p85 · cited by 1 page
- Competition rules must state clearly who replaces a match official who is unable to start or continue and any associated changes. In particular, it must be clear whether, if the referee is unable to start or continue, the fourth official or the senior assistant referee or senior additional assistant referee takes over.p85 · cited by 1 page
1. Assistant referees
- They indicate when:p86 · cited by 5 pages
- · the whole of the ball leaves the field of play and which team is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or throw-inp86 · cited by 1 page
- · a player in an offside position may be penalisedp86 · cited by 1 page
- · a substitution is requestedp86 · cited by 1 page
- · at penalty kicks, the goalkeeper moves off the goal line before the ball is kicked and if the ball crosses the line; if additional assistant referees have been appointed, the assistant referee takes a position in line with the penalty markp86 · cited by 1 page
- The assistant referee's assistance also includes monitoring the substitution procedure.p86 · cited by 1 page
- The assistant referee may enter the field of play to help control the 9.15m (10 yards) distance.p86 · cited by 1 page
2. Fourth official
- The fourth official's assistance also includes:p86 · cited by 5 pages
- · supervising the substitution procedurep86 · cited by 1 page
- · checking a player's/substitute's equipmentp86 · cited by 1 page
- · the re-entry of a player following a signal/approval from the refereep86 · cited by 1 page
- · supervising the replacement ballsp86 · cited by 1 page
- · indicating the minimum amount of additional time the referee intends to play at the end of each half (including extra time)p86 · cited by 1 page
- · informing the referee of irresponsible behaviour by any technical area occupantp86 · cited by 1 page
3. Additional assistant referees
- The additional assistant referees may indicate:p87 · cited by 1 page
- · when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, including when a goal is scoredp87 · cited by 1 page
- · which team is entitled to a corner kick or goal kickp87 · cited by 1 page
- · whether, at penalty kicks, the goalkeeper moves off the goal line before the ball is kicked and if the ball crosses the linep87 · cited by 1 page
4. Reserve assistant referee
5. Video match officials
- A video assistant referee (VAR) is a match official who may assist the referee to make a decision using replay footage only for a ‘clear and obvious error' or ‘serious missed incident' relating to a goal/no goal, penalty/no penalty, red card (including a clearly incorrect second caution) or a case of mistaken identity when the referee cautions or sends off the wrong player.p87 · cited by 1 page
- An assistant video assistant referee (AVAR) is a match official who helps the VAR primarily by:p87 · cited by 1 page
- · watching the television footage while the VAR is busy with a ‘check' or a ‘review'p87 · cited by 1 page
- · keeping a record of VAR-related incidents and any communication or technology problemsp87 · cited by 1 page
- · assisting the VAR's communication with the referee, especially communicating with the referee when the VAR is undertaking a ‘check'/ ‘review', e.g. to tell the referee to ‘stop play' or ‘delay the restart' etc.p87 · cited by 1 page
- · recording the time ‘lost' when play is delayed for a ‘check' or a ‘review'p87 · cited by 1 page
- · communicating information about a VAR-related decision to relevant partiesp87 · cited by 1 page
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.