Powers and Duties

The Referee:
• enforces the Laws of the Game
• controls the match in co-operation with the assistant referees and,
   where applicable, with the fourth official
• ensures that any ball used meets the requirements of Law 2
• ensures that the players’ equipment meets the requirements of Law 4
• acts as timekeeper and keeps a record of the match
• stops, suspends or terminates the match, at his discretion, for any
   infringements of the Laws
• stops, suspends or terminates the match because of outside interference
  of any kind
• stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and
   ensures that he is removed from the field of play. An injured player
   may only return to the field of play after the match has restarted
• allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in
   his opinion, only slightly injured
• ensures that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the field
   of play. The player may only return on receiving a signal from the
   referee, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped
• allows play to continue when the team against which an offence
   has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and
   penalizes the original offence if the anticipated advantage does
   not ensue at that time
• punishes the more serious offence when a player commits more
   than one offence at the same time
• takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and
   sending-off offences. He is not obliged to take this action immediately
   but must do so when the ball next goes out of play takes action against

   team officials who fail to conduct themselves
   in a responsible manner and may, at his discretion, expel them
   from the field of play and its immediate surrounds
• acts on the advice of assistant referees regarding incidents that he
   has not seen
• ensures that no unauthorized persons enter the field of play
• restarts the match after it has been stopped
• provides the appropriate authorities with a match report, which
   includes information on any disciplinary action taken against players,
   and/or team officials and any other incidents that occurred
   before, during or after the match

Decisions of the Referee
The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play are
final.The referee may only change a decision on realizing that it is incorrect
or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee, provided that
he has not restarted play or terminated the match.

Decisions of the International F.A. Board

Decision 1
A referee (or where applicable, an assistant referee or fourth official)
is not held liable for: any kind of injury suffered by a player, official or spectator
any damage to property of any kind
any other loss suffered by any individual, club, company, association
or other body, which is due or which may be due to any decision that
he may take under the terms of the Laws of the Game or in respect of
the normal procedures required to hold, play and control a match.

This may include:
• a decision that the condition of the field of play or its surrounds or
   that the weather conditions are such as to allow or not to allow a
   match to take place
• a decision to abandon a match for whatever reason
• a decision as to the condition of the fixtures or equipment used
   during a match including the goalposts, crossbar, flagposts and the
   ball
• a decision to stop or not to stop a match due to spectator interference
   or any problem in the spectator area
• a decision to stop or not to stop play to allow an injured player to
   be removed from the field of play for treatment
• a decision to request or insist that an injured player be removed
   from the field of play for treatment
• a decision to allow or not to allow a player to wear certain apparel
   or equipment
• a decision (in so far as this may be his responsibility) to allow or
   not to allow any persons (including team or stadium officials, security
   officers, photographers or other media representatives) to be
   present in the vicinity of the field of play
• any other decision that he may take in accordance with the Laws
   of the Game or in conformity with his duties under the terms of
   FIFA, confederation, member association or league rules or regulations
   under which the match is played

Decision 2
In tournaments or competitions where a fourth official is appointed,
his role and duties must be in accordance with the guidelines
approved by the International F.A. Board, which are contained in this
publication.

Decision 3
Facts connected with play shall include whether a goal is scored or not
and the result of the match.