# Law 6: The Other Match Officials (IFAB Laws of the Game)

Football · Law 6: The Other Match Officials · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/football/laws/law-6-the-other-match-officials/)

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.

## 6.61 Assistant 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 1: What the assistant referee signals

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

### Test 2: The assistant referee and the referee's authority

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

## 6.62 The 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 1: The fourth official

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

### Test 2: Additional assistants, the reserve official and the video team

- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- The video assistant referee assists the referee using replay footage of match incidents. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6)
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)

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

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