The referee is the master of the pitch. Learn the duties and the full officiating team from assistants to the fourth official and VAR.
The referee is primarily responsible for running the match and applying the laws, and his decision is final on the pitch. No match is complete without a full officiating team working in harmony.
The referee's duties
The referee manages play, calls fouls and goals, shows cards, and controls time including stoppage time. He must be physically fit to keep up with play and decisive in his calls moment to moment.
The assistant referees
Two assistant referees patrol the touchlines, mainly flagging for offside and out-of-play, deciding which team gets a throw-in or corner, and helping with what the referee can't see.
The fourth official and VAR
The fourth official manages the technical area and substitutions and displays stoppage time, while VAR reviews decisive decisions on video in four defined situations.
Why is refereeing hard?
Because decisions are made in split seconds under immense pressure. A good referee keeps play flowing and fair. Follow analysis of refereeing decisions on Shahid Live.
Published: