Assistant Referee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Two assistant referees (previously known as linesmen) assist the referee in
controlling an association football (soccer) match.
An assistant referee indicates matters to the referee (usually initially by
raising his flag), which the referee may then act upon. All decisions by the
assistant referee are only advisory to the referee; assistants do not actually
make binding decisions.
During the game one assistant referee oversees one touch-line and one end of the
field utilising the diagonal system of control.
Assistant referees were formerly called linesmen. In 1996, the name change was
primarily to better reflect the modern role of these officials, and secondarily
to become non-gender specific. They are also sometimes incorrectly referred to
as "referee's assistants".
General duties
Law 6 of the Laws of the Game outlines the general duties of the assistant
referees, however their duties in a given game remain subject to the decision of
the referee. These duties usually include indicating:
When the whole ball has passed outside the field of play.
Which side is entitled to return to the ball into the field of play.
When a player may be penalised for an offside offence .
When offences or other infringments of the Laws of the Game have been committed
of which the referee does not have an adequate view.
An assistant referee may also be called upon by the referee to provide an
opinion regarding matters which the referee requires clarification on. The
assistant referees also usually assist the referee with substitutions,
preparatory and administrative functions.
Fourth Official
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fourth official in UEFA Women's cup final 2005
In a game of association football (soccer), the fourth official is a match
official who assists the referee in a variety of tasks, and who may be called
upon to replace another match official.
Background
A game of association football is presided over by a referee, who is assisted
"on field" by two assistant referees.
The fourth official is a recent addition to the officiating crew. Famous referee
and administrator Ken Aston introduced the practice of having a named
replacement referee in 1966, but the International Football Association Board (IFAB)
did not officially create the position until 1991, and listed only areas of
responsibility. The fourth official is simply instructed to assist the referee
at all times, and his duties are largely at the discretion of the referee. His
usual duties can be broadly divided into assisting functions and a replacement
function (see below).
The fourth official
typically has a table a short distance from the touchline between the two teams'
technical areas, however his positioning is not defined by the Laws of the Game.
Assisting function
In usual practice, the fourth official assists the referee in the following
ways:
Assisting with administrative functions before, during and after the match;
Assessment of players' equipment;
Ensuring substitutions are conducted in an orderly manner and notifying the
referee of the details of the substitution;
Notifying the teams and spectators of the amount of time added on at the end of
each half, after having been advised of this by the referee;
Acting as the contact point between the match officiating crew and any
non-participants (such as stadium managers, security personnel, broadcast crews,
and ball retrievers);
Maintaining decorum in the teams' technical areas and interceding in situations
where coaches, bench personnel, or substitutes become agitated;
In practice, the fourth official becomes a key member of the officiating team,
who can watch the field and players and advise the Referee on situations that
are going on out of his sight. The fourth official keeps an extra set of
records, and helps make sure the Referee does not make a serious error such as
cautioning the wrong player, or giving two cautions to the same player and
forgetting to send off the player.
Replacement function
The fourth official serves as a replacement official in the event that one of
the other officials (referee or assistant referees) can not continue officiating
(usually through injury).
In situations where an assistant referee is unable to continue, the fourth
official replaces that assistant referee. In situations where the referee is
unable to continue, either the fourth official replaces the referee directly, or
the senior assistant referee replaces the referee, with the fourth official in
turn taking an assistant's position. Competition rules are supposed to clarify
which of these options is to occur. If for some reason it is not stated, then
typically the official with the most refereeing experience (either the fourth
official or the senior assistant referee) will replace the referee.
For matches in the 2006 World Cup, FIFA assigned five officials. When five
officials are assigned, the fourth official will only take over for the referee.
If an assistant referee needs to be replaced, the fifth official will take over
that position.