The Rules and the Referee – Part 2

During a match, a thousand judgments and decisions are made by the referee. The operative expression in every situation is “in the opinion of the referee…” Those six words drive every decision related to the game. Notice there is no reference to the opinions of the coaches, the players, the parents or even of the ARs. The role of the assistant referees is to assist the referee. They provide input, but the referee always makes the final decision.

So every decision is an opinion. No one sees the game exactly as the referee does. No one else is standing where he is standing when he makes a call or does not make a call. No one else has his exact experience. No one else has his exact eyesight (or lack thereof). No one else has his exact frame of mind.

What factors go into the referee’s decision? The referee is not only judging the actual, individual occurrences on the field, he is also engaged in game management. Players, coaches, and spectators all expect a soccer match to be an exciting, dynamic contest of skills, not some chopped up affair constantly interrupted by whistles for trivial or imagined offenses. But a match also needs to be safe and fair, not some violent free-for-all won by the last man standing. The referee needs to maintain a balance and that can be extraordinarily difficult in some matches.

Anyone who has watched more than a handful of matches is sure to have heard someone on the sidelines offer "advice" to the referee in the quote, "Let 'em play." That takes us back to “in the opinion of the referee…” Only the referee determines what is "play" and what is one step removed from ax murder. It may help to remember that game management involves not only what is happening right now, but also, what has occurred previously and what might occur as the game goes along.

So, the referee considers:

The actual occurrences on the pitch (as seen through the referee's eyes and processed by the referee's brain) vs. the Laws of the Game (LOTG) and other official guidance;

The game situation – how much (or how little) time remains in the match; where on the field is the action (in front of the goal, in front of the team benches, etc.);

The temperature of the match – are the two teams heated rivals;

Has either team (or both teams) shown an inclination toward very physical (but legal) play;

Is it an advancement/elimination playoff match;

Is the score close;

Has there already been a number of fouls committed and are they escalating in severity or frequency;

Is the play safe and fair – note that this does not mean equal or balanced by any stretch of the imagination. Just because a team in losing (or winning) by six goals does not mean the game is unfair;

Would a call be trifling or doubtful; would it contribute to safety or fairness or unnecessarily interrupt the flow of the game.

All these considerations also factor into showing the yellow and red cards, but that is a subject for another column.

Can a referee ever change a decision? Yes, but only prior to the next restart (that is, the next kickoff, free kick, throw-in, etc.) subject to some rare and very technical considerations. So, for example, if the referee awards a goal and the opposing team takes the kickoff, it's too late for any change. More basically, if the referee signals a restart n one direction and the ball is put into play (free kick, throw-in), it is too late to change the call. Keep in mind, however, that the game is subject to the decisions of the referee when he makes them, not when he signals them. So, a decision to change direction before a restart, for example, is valid, even if the restart is taken before the whistle, as long as the referee has already made the decision prior to the restart physically occurring.