Practical guidelines for match officials

Positioning of assistant referees and additional assistant referees

• The AR must be in line with the second-last defender or the ball if it is nearer to the goal line than the second-last defender. The AR must always face the field of play, even when running. Side-to-side movement should be used for short distances. This is especially important when judging offside as it gives the AR a better line of vision.p212 · cited by 1 page

Goal/no goal

• When a goal has been scored and there is no doubt about the decision, the referee and assistant referee must make eye contact and the assistant referee must then move quickly 25–30 metres along the touchline towards the halfway line without raising the flag.p216 · cited by 1 page
• When a goal has been scored but the ball appears still to be in play, the assistant referee must first raise the flag to attract the referee's attention then continue with the normal goal procedure of running quickly 25–30 metres along the touchline towards the halfway line.p216 · cited by 1 page

Penalty kick

• The AR must be positioned at the intersection of the goal line and the penalty area.p221 · cited by 1 page
• Where the goal line can be checked for goalkeeper encroachment and goal/no goal through the use of technology (e.g. GLT, the VAR system), it is recommended that the assistant referee be positioned on the touchline, in line with the penalty mark (which is the offside line), as being on the goal line creates a risk that they may not be able to get back into a position to judge offside if the kick rebounds.p221 · cited by 1 page
• Where there are AARs, the AAR must be positioned at the intersection of the goal line and the goal area and the AR is positioned in line with the penalty mark.p221 · cited by 1 page

Required distance

• When a free kick is awarded very close to the AR, the AR may enter the field of play (usually at the request of the referee) to help ensure that the players are positioned 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball. In this case, the referee must wait until the AR is back in position before restarting play.p222 · cited by 1 page

Substitution

• If there is no fourth official, the AR moves to the halfway line to assist with the substitution procedure; the referee must wait until the AR is back in position before restarting play.p222 · cited by 1 page
• If there is a fourth official, the AR does not need to move to the halfway line as the fourth official carries out the substitution procedure unless there are several substitutions at the same time, in which case the AR moves to the halfway line to assist the fourth official.p222 · cited by 1 page

Whistle

• The whistle is needed to:p224 · cited by 2 pages

• start play (first and second half of normal play and extra time), after a goalp224 · 1
• stop play:p224 · 1
• for a free kick or penalty kickp224 · 1
• if the match is suspended or abandonedp224 · 1
• at the end of each halfp224 · 1
• restart play for:p224 · 1
• free kicks when the appropriate distance is requiredp224 · 1
• penalty kicksp224 · 1
• restart play after it has been stopped for a:p224 · 1
• caution or sending-offp224 · 1
• injuryp225 · 1
• substitutionp225 · 1

• The whistle is NOT needed to:p225 · cited by 2 pages

• stop play for a clear:p225 · 1
• goal kick, corner kick, throw-in or goalp225 · 1
• restart play from:p225 · 1
• most free kicks, and a goal kick, corner kick, throw-in or dropped ballp225 · 1

• A whistle which is used too frequently/unnecessarily will have less impact when it is needed.p225 · cited by 1 page
• If the referee wants the player(s) to wait for the whistle before restarting play (e.g. when ensuring that defending players are 9.15m (10 yd) from the ball at a free kick) the referee must clearly inform the attacking player(s) to wait for the whistle.p225 · cited by 2 pages
• If the referee blows the whistle in error and play stops, play is restarted with a dropped ball.p225 · cited by 1 page

Fouls

• The AR must raise the flag when a foul or misconduct is committed in the immediate vicinity or out of the referee's vision. In all other situations, the AR must wait and offer an opinion if it is required and then inform the referee of what was seen and heard, and which players were involved.p227 · cited by 2 pages
• Before signalling for an offence, the AR must determine that:p227 · cited by 1 page

• the offence was out of the referee's view or the referee's view was obstructedp227 · 1
• the referee would not have applied the advantagep227 · 1

• When an offence occurs which requires a signal from the AR, the AR must:p227 · cited by 1 page

• raise the flag with the same hand that will also be used for the remainder of the signal – this gives the referee a clear indication as to who will be awarded the free kickp227 · 1
• make eye contact with the refereep227 · 1
• give the flag a slight wave back and forth (avoiding any excessive or aggressive movement)p227 · 1

• The AR must use the ‘wait and see technique' to allow play to continue and not raise the flag when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from the advantage; it is therefore very important for the AR to make eye contact with the referee.p227 · cited by 1 page

Fouls inside the penalty area

• When a foul is committed by a defender inside the penalty area out of the vision of the referee, especially if near to the AR's position, the AR must first make eye contact with the referee to see where the referee is positioned and what action has been taken. If the referee has not taken any action, the AR must signal with the flag, use the electronic beep signal and then visibly move down the touchline towards the corner flag.p227 · cited by 1 page

Fouls outside the penalty area

• When a foul is committed by a defender outside the penalty area (near the boundary of the penalty area), the AR should make eye contact with the referee, to see the referee's position and what action has been taken, and signal with the flag if necessary. In counter-attack situations, the AR should be able to give information such as whether or not a foul has been committed and whether a foul was committed inside or outside the penalty area, and what disciplinary action should be taken. The AR should make a clear movement along the touchline towards the halfway line to indicate when the offence took place outside the penalty area.p228 · cited by 1 page

Offside

• The first action of the AR for an offside decision is to raise the flag (using the right hand, giving the AR a better line of vision) and then, if the referee stops play, use the flag to indicate the area of the field of play in which the offence occurred. If the flag is not immediately seen by the referee, the AR must maintain the signal until it has been acknowledged or the ball is clearly in the control of the defending team.p228 · cited by 1 page

1. Advantage

• The referee may play advantage whenever an offence occurs but should consider the following in deciding whether to apply the advantage or stop play:p230 · cited by 2 pages

• the severity of the offence – if the offence warrants a sending-off, the referee must stop play and send off the player unless there is a clear opportunity to score a goalp230 · 2
• the position where the offence was committed – the closer to the opponent's goal, the more effective the advantage can bep230 · 2
• the chances of an immediate, promising attackp230 · 2
• the atmosphere of the matchp230 · 2

2. Allowance for time lost

• Many stoppages in play are entirely natural (e.g. throw-ins, goal kicks). An allowance is made only when delays are excessive.p230 · cited by 1 page

3. Holding an opponent

• Referees are reminded to make an early intervention and to deal firmly with holding offences, especially inside the penalty area at corner kicks and free kicks. To deal with these situations:p230 · cited by 4 pages

• the referee must warn any player holding an opponent before the ball is in playp230 · 4
• caution the player if the holding continues before the ball is in playp230 · 2
• award a direct free kick or penalty kick and caution the player if it happens once the ball is in playp230 · 2

Interfering with play

• An attacker in an offside position (A), not interfering with an opponent, touches the ball. The assistant referee must raise the flag when the player touches the ball.p231 · cited by 1 page
• An attacker in an offside position (A), not interfering with an opponent, does not touch the ball. The player did not touch the ball, so cannot be penalised.p231 · cited by 1 page

Not offside

• An attacker in an offside position (A) runs towards the ball and a team-mate in an onside position (B) also runs towards the ball and plays it. (A) did not touch the ball, so cannot be penalised.p232 · cited by 1 page

Offside

• A player in an offside position (A) may be penalised before playing or touching the ball, if, in the opinion of the referee, no other team-mate in an onside position has the opportunity to play the ball.p232 · cited by 1 page

Interfering with play

• An attacker in an offside position (1) runs towards the ball and does not touch the ball. The assistant referee must signal ‘goal kick'.p233 · cited by 1 page

Offside (A)

• An attacker in an offside position (A) is clearly obstructing the goalkeeper's line of vision. The player must be penalised for preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball.p233 · cited by 1 page

Not offside (A)

• An attacker in an offside position (A) is not clearly obstructing the goalkeeper's line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball.p234 · cited by 1 page

Not offside

• An attacker in an offside position (A) runs towards the ball but does not prevent the opponent from playing or being able to play the ball. (A) is not challenging an opponent (B) for the ball.p234 · cited by 1 page

Offside

• An attacker in an offside position (A) runs towards the ball, preventing the opponent (B) from playing or being able to play the ball by challenging the opponent for the ball. (A) is challenging an opponent (B) for the ball.p235 · cited by 1 page
• An attacker in an offside position (B) is penalised for playing or touching the ball that rebounds, is deflected or is played from a deliberate save by the goalkeeper, having been in an offside position when the ball was last touched or is played by a team-mate.p235 · cited by 1 page
• An attacker in an offside position (B) is penalised for playing or touching the ball that rebounds or is deflected from a deliberate save by a player from the defending team (C), having been in an offside position when the ball was last touched or is played by a team-mate.p236 · cited by 1 page

Not offside

• The shot by a team-mate (A) rebounds from the goalkeeper, (B) is in an onside position and plays the ball, (C) in an offside position is not penalised because the player did not gain an advantage from being in that position because the player did not touch the ball.p236 · cited by 1 page

Offside

• The shot by a team-mate (A) rebounds off or is deflected by an opponent to attacker (B), who is penalised for playing or touching the ball having previously been in an offside position.p237 · cited by 1 page

Not offside

• An attacker (C) is in an offside position, not interfering with an opponent, when a team-mate (A) passes the ball to player (B1) in an onside position who runs towards the opponents' goal and passes the ball (B2) to team-mate (C). Attacker (C) was in an onside position when the ball was passed, so cannot be penalised.p237 · cited by 1 page

5. Injuries

• The safety of the players is of paramount importance and the referee should facilitate the work of the medical personnel, especially in the case of a serious injury and/or an assessment of a head injury. This will include respecting and assisting with agreed assessment/treatment protocols.p238 · cited by 1 page

6. Treatment/assessment after a caution/sending-off

• Previously, an injured player who received medical attention on the field of play had to leave before the restart. This can be unfair if an opponent caused the injury as the offending team has a numerical advantage when play restarts.p238 · cited by 1 page
• However, this requirement was introduced because players often unsportingly used an injury to delay the restart for tactical reasons.p238 · cited by 1 page
• As a balance between these two unfair situations, The IFAB has decided that only for a physical offence where the opponent is cautioned or sent off, an injured player can be quickly assessed/treated and then remain on the field of play.p238 · cited by 1 page
• In principle, the delay should not be any longer than currently occurs when a medical person(s) comes onto the field to assess an injury. The difference is that the point at which the referee used to require the medical person(s) and the player to leave is the point at which the medical staff leave but the player can remain.p238 · cited by 1 page
• To ensure the injured player does not use/extend the delay unfairly, referees are advised to:p238 · cited by 1 page

• be aware of the match situation and any potential tactical reason to delay the restartp238 · 1
• inform the injured player that if medical treatment is required it must be quickp238 · 1
• signal for the medical person(s) (not the stretchers) and, if possible, remind them to be quickp238 · 1

• When the referee decides play should restart, either:p239 · cited by 1 page

• the medical person(s) leaves and the player remains orp239 · 1
• the player leaves for further assessment/treatment (stretcher signal may be necessary)p239 · 1

• As a general guide, the restart should not be delayed for more than about 20–25 seconds beyond the point when everyone was ready for play to restart, except in the case of a serious injury and/or an assessment of a head injury.p239 · cited by 1 page
• The referee must make full allowance for the stoppage.p239 · cited by 1 page