Football · Laws of the Game

Law 6: The Other Match Officials

3 parts · 7 tests · 70 facts · updated 12 October 2026 · markdown

Law 6 covers the officials who assist the referee: the assistant referees and what they signal, the additional assistant referees positioned at the goal line, the fourth official with the administrative and touchline duties, the reserve assistant referee, and the video assistant referee and assistant VAR. The other match officials assist the referee in controlling the match in accordance with the Laws and operate under the direction of the referee, but the final decision is always taken by the referee; an official guilty of undue interference or improper conduct is relieved of duties and reported.

6.61Assistant referees

What the two assistant referees signal - the ball wholly out of play and the restart team, a punishable offside, a substitution request, and at a penalty kick the goalkeeper leaving the line and the ball crossing it - when they may step onto the field to help manage the 9.15 m distance, how they judge tight touchline and goal-line calls, and how their signals sit under the referee's final authority, including replacement by the reserve assistant referee and removal for improper conduct.

Test 1What the assistant referee signalsTake a test

The assistant referee signals when the whole of the ball has left the field and which team is entitled to the corner kick, goal kick or throw-in.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
The offside flag is raised to indicate that a player in an offside position may be penalised, not merely that a player is standing in that position.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
Indicating that a substitution has been requested is one of the assistant referee's listed signalling duties.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied
At a penalty kick the assistant referee indicates whether the goalkeeper moves off the goal line before the ball is kicked and whether the ball crosses the line.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
The assistant referee signals which team is entitled to the restart; a defender playing the ball out over their own goal line means a corner kick.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied
The assistant referee may enter the field of play to help control the 9.15 m distance at a free kick.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
The ball is out of play only when the whole of it has crossed the line, and the line itself is part of the field, so the assistant referee flags only then.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
For an offence committed closer to the assistant referee than to the referee, the assistant signals it and the referee makes the decision.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied
With no additional assistant referee, that goal-line judgement falls to the assistant referee stationed in line with it.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
The assistant referee monitors the substitution procedure, including that the substitute comes on only once the replaced player has left the field.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied

Test 2The assistant referee and the referee's authorityTake a test

The other match officials assist the referee in controlling the match, but the final decision is always taken by the referee.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
The assistant referee assists, but the referee, well placed and seeing the incident, keeps the decision; the flag does not override a clear on-field call.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied
The practical guidelines position the assistant referee level with the second-last defender or the ball, whichever is nearer the goal line.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Practical Guidelines for Match Officials · recall
The reserve assistant referee may replace an assistant referee, fourth official or additional assistant referee who is unable to continue.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
In the event of undue interference or improper conduct, the referee relieves the official of their duties and makes a report to the appropriate authorities.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
In a mass confrontation the assistant referee assists by watching and recording the details for the referee, who takes any disciplinary action.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied
Beyond the listed signals, the assistant referees assist the referee in controlling the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
Indicating the minimum added time is the fourth official's task; the other three are among the assistant referee's listed signalling duties.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
The assistant referee signals with the flag; the decision is then the referee's to act on.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
The on-field match officials are the assistant referees, the fourth official and the additional assistant referees; the VAR and AVAR are the video match officials.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall

6.62The fourth official and the other officials

The fourth official's administrative role and touchline duties - the substitution procedure, equipment checks on players entering, the replacement ball, the minimum added-time display, and informing the referee of technical-area misconduct with no power to caution - the replacement of the referee or an assistant who cannot continue, the goal-line and penalty-area role of the additional assistant referees who do not signal offside, the reserve assistant referee, and the video assistant referee and assistant VAR.

Test 1The fourth officialTake a test

The fourth official assists the referee at all times, including with administrative duties before, during and after the match.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
Competition rules normally name the fourth official as the first replacement for a referee who cannot continue.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied
The fourth official supervises the substitution procedure; whether a substitution can be made is a matter of the Laws, not the fourth official's discretion.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied
The fourth official has authority to check the equipment of players and substitutes entering the field; jewellery is not permitted and must be removed first.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied
The fourth official supplies a replacement ball on the referee's instruction, keeping the stoppage as short as possible.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
The fourth official indicates the minimum amount of additional time the referee intends to play at the end of each half.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
The fourth official informs the referee of irresponsible behaviour by an occupant of the technical area; the referee decides on any sanction.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied
The fourth official has no disciplinary power of their own; they report to the referee, in whom the authority to caution or send off rests.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
The fourth official must draw the referee's attention to a caution or sending-off given to the wrong player through mistaken identity.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied
The fourth official may advise the referee, but the referee retains the authority to decide all points connected with play.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall

Test 2Additional assistants, the reserve official and the video teamTake a test

The officials who may be appointed include a video assistant referee and at least one assistant VAR.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
Judging the ball at the goal line, including tight goal decisions, is the additional assistant referee's main reason for standing where they do.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
Additional assistant referees do not signal for offside; that remains with the assistant referee and the referee.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
The additional assistant referee informs the referee of an offence in the penalty area, and the referee decides; the additional assistant does not award the penalty.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied
The additional assistant referee may also indicate which team is entitled to a corner kick or a goal kick.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
An additional assistant referee is positioned behind each goal line, assisting with decisions on the line and in the penalty area.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
The video assistant referee assists the referee using replay footage of match incidents.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
While the VAR reviews footage, the assistant VAR watches the live action so that play is still covered.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall
Among the assistant VAR's tasks is keeping a record of the playing time lost during a video check or review.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · applied
The video assistant referee works from a video operation room rather than on the field.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 · recall

6.63The officiating team, flag signals and the AVAR

The rest of Law 6: which officials may be appointed, on-field and video match officials, reports on incidents out of the referee's view, pre-match inspections and records, who replaces an official who cannot continue, the assistant referee's flag signals, the reserve assistant referee, the additional assistants' restarts and the assistant VAR's duties.

Test 1The officiating teamTake a test

The VAR and AVAR are the video match officials (VMOs) and assist the referee under the Laws and the VAR protocol.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
The match officials operate under the direction of the referee, who takes the final decision.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
The other on-field officials must submit a report on serious misconduct or other incidents that happened out of the view of the referee and the other officials.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · applied
The on-field officials must advise the referee and the other match officials of any report being made.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
The on-field officials assist with inspecting the field of play, the balls and the players' equipment, including whether problems have been resolved.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
Competition rules must state clearly who replaces a match official unable to start or continue, including the referee.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
The on-field officials help maintain records of time, goals, misconduct and so on.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
Assistants report serious incidents the referee did not see, and must tell the referee and the other officials that a report is being made.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · applied
Competition rules name the replacement for the referee, and a reserve assistant referee may fill the place of a fourth official who moves up.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · applied
The board shows the least extra time the referee plans to play in that half; more may still be added.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · applied

Test 2The assistant referee's flag signalsTake a test

For an offence on the near side the assistant points the flag downwards, after first raising it.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
For the middle of the field the flag is held horizontally, straight out.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
For the far side of the field the flag is pointed upwards at an angle.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
The assistant first raises the flag; once the referee stops play, the flag shows where the offence happened.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
For a throw-in the flag is raised at an angle in the direction the team taking it is attacking.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
For a corner kick the assistant points the flag downwards towards the corner arc.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
For a goal kick the assistant points the flag horizontally at the goal area.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
The raised flag asks for the whistle; after it, the flag's angle shows where on the field the offence happened.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · applied
The assistant raises and waves the flag to attract the referee, then points it in the direction of the free kick.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · applied
Holding the flag horizontally above the head with both hands signals that a substitution is requested.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall

Test 3Reserve officials and the assistant VARTake a test

The reserve can step into three roles: an assistant referee, the fourth official or an additional assistant who has to drop out.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
The reserve assistant referee may also assist the referee in the same way as the other on-field match officials.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
Goal-line decisions are what these officials are there for, and that includes telling the referee whether it is a corner or a goal kick.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
The fourth official assists with the re-entry of a player following a signal or approval from the referee.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
The AVAR keeps a record of VAR-related incidents and of any communication or technology problems.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
The AVAR assists the VAR's communication with the referee, for example telling the referee to stop play or delay the restart.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
Communicating information about a VAR-related decision to relevant parties is one of the AVAR's duties.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · recall
While the VAR checks, the AVAR watches the live footage, helps with the messages to the referee and records the time lost.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · applied
The reserve assistant referee can take the fourth official's place, including supervising substitutions and the board.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · applied
With additional assistant referees appointed, the assistant referee stands on the touchline in line with the penalty mark (B); the goal line is then watched by the additional assistant.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 6 · applied

Sources

IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Law, not reproduced)

IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 639
IFAB Laws of the Game 2025/26, Law 630
IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Practical Guidelines for Match Officials1