| Any game that has rules must also have in place | | | | referees to follow the ball to every corner it goes. |
| ways of enforcing the rules as well as a system of | | | | For this reason, the two officials operating the |
| punishing offenders to instill a sense of seriousness in | | | | touchlines assign themselves to different halves of |
| the game. Being a full contact game that involves | | | | the pitch. They also have to run on opposite wings |
| direct contact among opposing team members, it is | | | | on the different halves i.e. if the first one is on the |
| very important to put guidelines to ensure that | | | | right of the pitch the other must run along the left of |
| players do not get overboard in the course of a | | | | the pitch concentrating on the remaining half. The |
| game. For this reason, soccer is played under the full | | | | central referee is then supposed to run diagonally in |
| watch of several officials to ensure fairness and to | | | | the pitch covering the alternate areas to the ones |
| maintain the integrity of the game. Among the most | | | | being manned by the lines men. |
| prominent officials in a soccer game are the central | | | | This means that if the linesman is on the left of the |
| referee and the two lines men. | | | | pitch the central referee will run more to the right of |
| Other than these three, there are several other | | | | that half of the pitch and will be crossing to the other |
| officials who watch the proceedings from outside the | | | | half in the same stile thus concentrating on the side |
| pitch, their main role is to verify that the officials in | | | | that has no linesman. |
| the pitch are exercising fairness in whatever decisions | | | | The main reason behind this pattern is to keep the |
| they take in the course of the game. These officials | | | | ball close to at least one official at any given time |
| include the match commissars among others. Their | | | | and to reduce the distance covered by the officials in |
| main role is to resolve any disputes that may crop up | | | | order to prevent exhaustion. In order to manage this |
| because of the decisions made by the main officials | | | | job of officiating, the officials must be very fit and |
| in the field. | | | | flexible to run with the players for the full duration of |
| How do the officials manage the game at any time | | | | the game. This calls for the officials to undergo |
| during play? The central referee is in charge of the | | | | training similar to soccer training drills to keep up to |
| whistle and calls on any fouls or changes in the | | | | the pace. Lastly, it is very crucial to get your |
| course of play. He must however keep in constant | | | | judgment right as an official since a slight mistake in |
| coordination with his two colleagues operating the | | | | the officiating of a game has changed the fate and |
| touchlines. A soccer pitch is very wide and the ball | | | | outcome of man matches. It is a very sensitive job |
| can swiftly move from one end of the pitch to the | | | | that could expose one to the wrath of the fans. |
| next in seconds. It might not be very easy for all the | | | | Such a situation can even result in an official's death. |