| A soccer referee should be fit, neutral, able to read | | | | interruptions from various sources. Other duties that |
| the game and thick-skinned. Above all, a referee has | | | | are part of his role include addressing injured players |
| to have a reservoir of discretion and common sense. | | | | (both ensuring that they are dealt with and don't |
| These qualities would help a soccer referee perform | | | | hamper the game), record-keeping, facilitating |
| his role properly. The referee exists primarily to | | | | substitutions and taking disciplinary action against |
| facilitate the smooth running of a match, not | | | | players and team officials if their behaviour is |
| necessarily to whistle like a bird at every opportunity. | | | | unacceptable, violent or irresponsible. |
| Indeed, the role of a referee goes way beyond | | | | The most important point to make is that the |
| disciplining players guilty of cautionable or sending-off | | | | referee does more than enforce the laws of the |
| offences. | | | | game. Protecting the spirit of the game is an integral |
| Team officials seem to believe that the referee is on | | | | part of the referee's role. In a few instances, the |
| the field to interrupt the flow of the beautiful game. | | | | referee is powerless to ensure that players do the |
| They may even subscribe to the view that the | | | | "right" thing. An example of such is when a player |
| referee and other match officials are part of a global | | | | does not return the ball to the other team that |
| conspiracy to ensure that it is difficult for their team | | | | kicked the ball out of play because one of his team |
| to win. The more mundane reality is that one of the | | | | mates was injured. In many other circumstances, the |
| referee's primary roles is merely to enforce the laws | | | | referee ensures that fair play takes place and that |
| of the game. | | | | unsporting behaviour does not occur. |
| Soccer has a total of 17 laws. These laws cannot | | | | The referee would not tolerate taunting of other |
| interpret or enforce themselves according to a match | | | | players or fans by players and team officials. His |
| situation or context. The powers and duties of the | | | | authority resides in the pen as well as the card, since |
| referee are enshrined in Law 5. It is important to | | | | the referee's match report is the basis of any |
| note that the referee and his assistants are even | | | | investigation into misconduct as well. This is why it is |
| considered a part of the play in soccer. If a goal is | | | | important for referees to take their role as |
| scored via a deflection off of the referee while he is | | | | record-keepers seriously, even if they hate |
| on the field of play, the goal will stand (unless there's | | | | paperwork. Most referees would allow substitutes to |
| an infringement otherwise). | | | | assume their positions before starting play or ensure |
| The referee is there to ensure the safety of players, | | | | that the goalkeeper assumes his proper position if he |
| spectators and other officials. If there is a safety | | | | is caught out of play before a restart. The referee is |
| concern regarding play or the match atmosphere, the | | | | not strictly obligated to do such things, but would do |
| referee must take this into account in deciding | | | | that to guarantee fair play. |
| whether to suspend play, abandon the match or | | | | The ultimate power and authority of the soccer |
| address the problem. He must also document any | | | | referee is combined with numerous responsibilities and |
| event that interferes with the match. | | | | numerous duties. The referee remains accountable to |
| Effective game management is the purview of the | | | | his association's disciplinary body regarding any action |
| soccer referee. Surely you can understand why it is | | | | taken or decisions made. The reality is that decisions |
| difficult for the referee to control a match from | | | | that referees make can determine the outcome of a |
| outside the field of play. He has to see what happens | | | | match. It is this fact that makes referees the subject |
| in and around play and diffuse conflicts quickly. | | | | of verbal and sometimes physical abuse, even if they |
| Effective game management includes the field of | | | | made a good or defensible decision. Despite the |
| play, the match balls, player equipment and fouls and | | | | importance of the referee's role, there is limited |
| misconduct in particular. | | | | prestige associated with it. The vast majority of |
| The referee is also the game's timekeeper. He | | | | referees officiate because of their love of the game. |
| ensures that the game is played with minimal | | | | |