The Referee

The referee has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match they have been appointed to. Their decisions on facts of play are final.

A yellow card is a caution. The player remains on the field but is officially warned. A second yellow in the same match leads to a red card.

A red card means the player is sent off and must leave the field and the technical area. The team continues with one fewer player and cannot bring on a replacement.

The two assistant referees each patrol one touchline (A), helping with offside, the ball going out and incidents the referee cannot see.

The fourth official assists with substitutions, manages the technical areas, displays the added time, and may step in to officiate if a referee or assistant cannot continue.

VAR (Video Assistant Referee) is an off-field official who reviews video footage and may advise the referee on a clear and obvious error in four match-changing situations.

The technical area is a designated zone next to the pitch. Coaches and substitutes must remain in it during the match unless given permission by the referee to leave.

A reckless challenge is punished with a free kick and a yellow card.

Two yellow cards in the same match are followed by a red card.

Match officials include the referee, assistant referees, the fourth official, and (where used) the VAR team. All are bound by the Laws of the Game.

Only one referee officiates on the field. Other officials (assistants, fourth official, VAR) support that single referee from the touchline or off-field.

Two assistant referees, one along each touchline, help with offside calls, ball out of play, and other duties.

Two yellow cards in the same match automatically result in a red card, sending off the player.

The VAR can only advise; the referee looks at the monitor and makes the final decision.

VAR debuted at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, after extensive trials in club competitions during 2016–2018.

Yellow and red cards were first used at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, so that decisions were clear across language barriers.

The referee was given full on-field authority in 1891. Before that, captains and umpires settled disputes.

One fourth official is appointed per match, stationed at the touchline near the technical areas. Major tournaments may add a reserve assistant referee as well.

The standard officiating team has four members: the referee, two assistant referees, and the fourth official. VAR adds further off-field officials when used.

The on-field referee got full authority in the 19th century, the fourth official was added much later, and VAR arrived at a World Cup most recently.

The referee keeps the official time. The stadium clock is for spectators only; if it disagrees with the referee, the referee's time is the one that counts.

The referee makes the final decision, but in modern matches goal-line technology and VAR provide objective input on goal/no goal.

The assistant referee on the corresponding touchline raises a flag when the offside offence is committed. The referee then makes the final call.

A substitute may come on only after the player being replaced has left the pitch.

Assistants may suggest a card, but only the on-field referee shows yellow and red cards.

Only the referee can award a penalty kick. Other officials can recommend, but the decision lies with the referee.

The assistant referee follows the touchline closely and signals when the ball goes out. The referee makes the final decision.

The fourth official manages the technical areas, ensures only authorised personnel are present, and reports any misconduct by team officials to the referee.

The VAR alerts the on-field official to a possible clear error; the final decision is made on the pitch after watching the monitor.

The referee has authority to suspend, postpone or abandon a match if conditions are unsafe. They consult others but make the final call.

Once play has restarted, the decision that led to the restart can no longer be changed.

Since the 2019/20 Laws, coaches and other team officials may be cautioned (yellow) or dismissed (red) for misconduct in the technical area or on the pitch.

Substitutes can be cautioned (yellow) or sent off (red) for misconduct in the technical area or after entering the pitch.

VAR can recommend a review for a clear and obvious error, but the on-field referee retains final authority for every decision.

Law 5 gives the referee authority to abandon a match in cases of unsafe conditions, weather, outside interference or other emergencies.

A penalty is awarded only when a direct-free-kick offence is committed by the defending team inside its own penalty area. Outside the area, a free kick is awarded.

Dissent by word or action is a cautionable offence. Even captains have no special right to argue with the referee.

The referee may carry only equipment necessary to officiate: whistle, timekeeping watch, notebook, cards, and communications equipment to other match officials. Personal phones are forbidden.

A direct red card can be shown for serious foul play, violent conduct, denying an obvious goal-scoring chance and other sending-off offences.

A player who is sent off cannot be replaced; the team continues with fewer players.

Two cautions in one match mean a sending-off: the red card follows the second yellow.

Spitting at an opponent or any other person is treated as violent conduct — a direct red card.

Outside the penalty area, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a foul or handball is a direct red card.

When a defender denies an obvious chance inside the area while genuinely trying to play the ball, the penalty is given and the card is reduced to a yellow.

Repeated time-wasting (delaying a restart, slow substitution, etc.) is a cautionable offence — yellow card.

Offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures (OFFINABUS) are punished with a direct red card.

Team officials can be cautioned for entering the field without permission, and dismissed (red card) for repeated offences or other serious misconduct.

Removing the shirt entirely while celebrating a goal results in a caution (yellow card) for unsporting behaviour, regardless of how the goal was scored.

Simulating, also called diving, is unsporting behaviour and results in a caution. VAR can also be used to overturn falsely awarded penalties.

A sent-off player must leave the field and the technical area; play cannot go on while they refuse.

English referee Ken Aston is said to have thought of yellow and red cards while waiting at traffic lights.

A red card is shown for a sending-off offence, and the player must leave the field of play.

Before 1891, two umpires (one from each team) and an off-field referee resolved disputes. In 1891, the on-field referee with sole authority was introduced.

Whistles came into use in the late 1870s, the on-field referee got full authority afterwards, and the fourth official came much later.

The fourth official was formally added in 1991 to manage the technical area and assist with substitutions.

After successful trials, VAR was officially included in the Laws in 2018 — the same year it debuted at a World Cup.

Each team appointed an umpire on the field; if they disagreed, an off-field referee was consulted. The modern role of single, on-field referee was introduced in 1891.

Italian referee Pierluigi Collina was named FIFA's Best Referee six times in a row (1998–2003). He officiated the 2002 World Cup final.

FIFA added women referees to its international list in 1996. The first female referee at a men's World Cup was Stephanie Frappart in 2022.

VAR was first used at a FIFA World Cup in 2018 in Russia. It assists the referee with clear and obvious errors in four match-changing situations: goals, penalties, red cards, and mistaken identity.

Goal-line technology and VAR exist precisely to support the referee on goal/no goal decisions. If they confirm the ball crossed the line, the goal stands.

Under most competition rules the fourth official is there to step in when a referee or assistant cannot continue.

If VAR equipment fails, the match continues using normal on-field officiating procedures. There is no obligation to use VAR.

Once play has restarted, the referee cannot change a decision. Before restart, or with VAR's input, they may take disciplinary action.

The referee raises one arm vertically and keeps it raised until the kick is taken and the ball touches another player or goes out of play.

Both arms pointing forward signal advantage: the referee has seen the foul but lets play continue because the fouled team benefits.

Cautions and dismissals can be issued to substitutes, already-substituted players, and (since 2019) team officials in the technical area.

Goal or no goal is one of the situations VAR can review, so a clear mistake can be put right.

A substituted player remains under the referee's jurisdiction. They can be cautioned or sent off for misconduct in the technical area or near the field.

Once play restarts, the on-field decision (e.g. no foul) cannot change. But a red card may still be shown if VAR or assistants confirm a serious offence.

Football has a single on-field referee with two assistant referees on the touchlines. Rugby union has one referee and two touch judges actively officiating on-field.

American football officials throw yellow penalty flags to indicate a foul. Football's coloured cards are unique to the sport (and several derivatives, like rugby).

VAR is limited to 4 match-changing categories. NFL replay can review most plays, with coaches having a fixed number of challenges per game.

Assistant referees were called linesmen until the 1990s.

In the earliest codified football, captains negotiated decisions on the field. Disputes that could not be resolved went to umpires, then to a referee.

A foul alone gives a free kick; a caution adds a yellow card, and a sending-off a red card.

Umpires from each team were replaced by a single on-field referee in the 19th century; video assistance came in the 21st.

Cricket uses the DRS, in which teams can challenge umpires' decisions a limited number of times per innings. It uses ball-tracking and other technology.

Major competitions can appoint both a fourth official and a reserve assistant referee. Both can replace officials who cannot continue.

Football's offside is judged at the moment the ball is played to a teammate, by reference to the second-to-last defender. Rugby's offside is based on dynamic ruck/maul lines.

Delaying the restart, for example by kicking the ball away, is a cautionable offence.

Since the 2019 Laws, if the ball hits a match official and possession changes (or directly leads to a goal/scoring chance), play is restarted with a drop ball.

Outside the penalty area the goalkeeper is like any other player; handling to deny an obvious goal-scoring chance is a sending-off.

Substitutes are subject to the Laws. Misconduct in the technical area, including throwing objects, can result in a caution.

For violent conduct or other off-the-ball red-card incidents, VAR alerts the referee, who reviews and decides. The on-field decision remains the referee's.

Removing the shirt entirely while celebrating a goal is a caution for unsporting behaviour. The goal stands.

Captains have no privileged right to argue, but calm clarification is allowed. Dissent — by word or action — is what triggers a card.

Coaches must remain in the technical area. Entering the field without permission is a caution for the team official.

If the goalkeeper's early move affects the kick and the penalty is saved, it is taken again.

If neither the referee nor the fourth official can continue, a senior assistant referee may take over. Otherwise the match is suspended per competition rules.

Even with VAR, the on-field referee is the sole final authority on every decision during the match.

A yellow card is a formal caution. The player remains on the field but is officially warned.

A red card means the player is dismissed and cannot be replaced. The team plays on with one fewer player.

Each touchline is patrolled by one of the two assistant referees, who help with offside, ball out of play, and other decisions.

VAR reviews are limited to four 'match-changing' categories: goal/no goal, penalty/no penalty, direct red card, and mistaken identity.

Cards first appeared at the 1970 World Cup, the fourth official in 1991 and VAR in 2018.

The fourth official handles the substitution board and the procedure, with the referee's permission.

English referee Ken Aston is credited with the idea, inspired by traffic lights. The cards were first used at the 1970 World Cup.

Before 1891, two team umpires plus an off-field referee handled disputes. In 1891, the modern role of single on-field referee was introduced.

One arm raised above the head signals an indirect free kick; it stays up until the ball touches another player or goes out.