Law Changes 16/17 - Law 5 - The Referee

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05.1 Decisions of the referee – opinion and discretion

Additional text
Decisions will be made to the best of the referee’s ability according to the Laws of the Game and the ‘spirit of the game’ and will be based on the opinion of the referee who has the discretion to take appropriate action within the framework of the Laws of the Game.

Explanation
Throughout the Laws, there is reference to ‘in the opinion of the referee’ and ‘at the discretion of the referee’ so this statement removes the need to use ‘in the opinion of/at the discretion of’ regularly. The concept of the ‘spirit of the game’ now appears in the Laws

 

05.2 Decisions of the referee – when decisions can not be changed

Old Text
The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match

New Text
The referee may not change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or on the advice of another match official if play has restarted or the referee has signalled the end of the first or second half (including extra time when played) and left the field or terminated the match.

Explanation
Clarifies that once the referee signals the end of a half and leaves the field a decision can not be changed even if information then comes to light e.g. during the half-time interval.

 

05.3 Several offences committed at the same time I can hear the arguments on this one already!!

Old Text
• punishes the more serious offence when a player (or players from the same team) commits more than one offence at the same time
• Offences committed by players from different teams: the referee must stop play and restart it with a dropped ball.

New Text
• punishes the more serious offence, in terms of sanction, restart, physical severity and tactical impact, when more than one offence occurs at the same time.

Explanation
It should not matter if it is one or several players or from which team(s) as the most serious offence should be penalised. Same change included in Law 14.

 

05.4 Authority to take disciplinary action from pre-match inspection of the field (see 12.8)

Old Text
The referee has the authority to take disciplinary sanctions from the moment he enters the field of play until he leaves the field of play after the final whistle

New Text
• has the authority to take disciplinary action from entering the field of play for the pre-match inspection until leaving the field of play after the match ends (including kicks from the penalty mark). If, before entering the field of play at the start of the match, a player commits a sending-off offence, the referee has the authority to prevent the player taking part in the match (see Law 3.6); the referee will report any other misconduct.

Explanation
New wording identifies exactly when the referee’s authority to take action starts. The current Law 12 wording relates to when there was no pre-match warming up, teams did not enter the field together etc… It is logical that if, for example, 2 players have a fight in the tunnel, or in the pre-match warm up, they can not be allowed to play as this would risk match control and not be good for the image of the game. During the inspection of the field of play the referee can have the markings changed etc., so it is logical that this is when the authority to ‘send off’ a player starts. Non-sending-off offences will be reported so YCs cannot be issued prior to the match or carried into the match (See also 12.8).

 

05.5 Authority to show red and yellow cards

Old Text
The referee has the power to show yellow or red cards during the half-time interval and after the match has finished as well as during extra time and kicks from the penalty mark, since the match remains under his jurisdiction at these times.

New Text
• has the power to show yellow or red cards from entering the field of play at the start of the match until after the match has ended, including during the half-time interval, extra time and kicks from the penalty mark

Explanation
Clarifies (in light of 5.4) that the referee may only use red and yellow cards from entering the field of play at the start of the match.

 

05.6 Player may have quick on-field assessment/treatment after YC/RC offence

Old Text
The referee… …stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that the player is removed from the field of play. An injured player may not be treated on the field and may only return after the match has restarted (…)

Exceptions to the requirement to leave the field are only when:
• a goalkeeper is injured 
• a goalkeeper and an outfield player have collided and need immediate attention
• players from the same team have collided and need immediate attention
• a severe injury has occurred

Additional Text
a player is injured as the result of a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned or sent off (e.g. reckless or serious foul challenge), if the assessment/treatment is completed quickly

Explanation
It is widely seen as unfair that a player who is injured by a serious foul and the trainer/doctor comes on, the player has to leave the field giving the offending team a numerical benefit (see Practical Guidelines).

 

05.7 Impact of an outside agent touching a ball which is going into the goal

Old Text
An extra ball, other object or animal enters the field of play during the match, the referee must:
• stop play only if it interferes with play. Play must be restarted with a dropped ball

New Text
an extra ball, other object or animal enters the field of play during the match, the referee must:
• stop play (and restart with a dropped ball) only if it interferes with play unless the ball is going into the goal and the interference does not prevent a defending player playing the ball, the goal is awarded if the ball enters the goal (even if contact was made with the ball) unless the ball enters the opponents’ goal.

Explanation
This makes Law 5 consistent with the change in Law 3 (see 3.8).

 

05.8 Referee’s equipment

Additional Text
Compulsory equipment
• Whistle(s)
• Watch(es)
• Red and yellow cards
• Notebook (or other means of keeping a record of the match)

Other equipment Referees may be permitted to use:
• Equipment for communicating with other match officials – buzzer/beep flags, headsets etc (…)
• EPTS or other fitness monitoring equipment

Referees and other match officials are prohibited from wearing jewellery or any other electronic equipment.

Explanation
Moved from Law 4; wording clarifies what equipment a match official is or may be permitted to use.