Law 5: The Referee Explained
Law 5 defines the referee's authority and powers. It covers the advantage rule, the referee's ability to stop play, when decisions are final, and the principle that the referee's presence on the pitch means their decisions are binding from the moment they take charge.
Key Points
- 1The referee is the sole authority for applying and enforcing the Laws of the Game.
- 2The referee may play advantage when a foul is committed and the non-offending team would benefit.
- 3Decisions are final once play has restarted, unless the assistant referee intervened before restart.
- 4The referee may stop play to caution or send off a player at any time.
- 5A referee cannot be held liable for injury, loss, damage, or any other consequence that occurs during a match.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the referee change a decision after play has restarted?
No. Once play has restarted, the referee cannot change a previous decision. The only exception is if an assistant referee has indicated an error before the restart, in which case the referee may reconsider.
What is the advantage rule under Law 5?
The advantage rule allows the referee to let play continue after a foul if the non-offending team would benefit more from play continuing than from a stoppage. The referee signals advantage by extending the arms forward and calling "advantage" or "play on". If the advantage does not materialise, the referee may stop play within 2–3 seconds.
When can a referee show a card outside of play?
A referee may caution or send off a player for offences committed during a stoppage, in the period between kick-off time and the start of play, at half-time, after the final whistle, and even for incidents that occurred before the referee's authority began if they are made aware of them before the match.
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