Law 5: The Referee

The referee's power to take disciplinary action runs from entering the field of play for the pre-match inspection until leaving the field after the match ends.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

The referee's authority continues through kicks from the penalty mark, which count as part of the match, and ends only when the referee leaves the field of play afterwards.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

Disciplinary authority is continuous from the pre-match inspection to the end of the match, so it covers the half-time interval and a substitute can be cautioned then.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

A sending-off offence committed before entering the field for the start lets the referee stop the player starting, and one of the named substitutes takes their place.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

The referee controls the match in cooperation with the other match officials; captains and competition personnel have no share in that on-field authority.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

As record-keeper the referee provides a match report covering disciplinary action and any other incidents occurring before, during or after the match.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

Supervising and indicating the restart of play is the referee's duty; the other officials assist but do not give the restart signal.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

A decision may be changed on realising it is incorrect or on an official's advice, but only if play has not restarted and the referee has not ended a half and left the field.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

If the referee becomes incapacitated, play may continue under the supervision of the other match officials until the ball is next out of play.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws in connection with that match; it is not shared with club or competition personnel.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

The referee takes action on the advice of other match officials regarding incidents that the referee has not seen, with no restriction to a particular sanction.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

Provided play has not restarted, the referee may change a decision on the advice of another match official, so a goal built on a missed offside can be disallowed.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

The referee may take disciplinary action against team officials, showing a yellow or red card for irresponsible conduct such as throwing an object onto the field.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

Where the offending team official cannot be identified, the senior coach present in the technical area receives the sanction.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

A team official expelled for irresponsible behaviour must leave the field of play and its immediate surrounds, which includes the technical area.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

Outside interference on the field means the referee stops play; if the extra ball, person or animal interfered with play, the restart is a dropped ball.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

The referee has the power to stop, suspend or abandon the match for any offences or because of outside interference of any kind.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

Deciding to suspend and then to resume a match is part of the referee's authority to control it; the decision is not delegated to the clubs or the ground staff.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

Unsafe conditions such as a floodlight failure are grounds to abandon; a one-sided score or a normal sending-off is not.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

The referee authorises medical and other personnel to enter the field; they may only come on when the referee signals them on.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

The referee allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from the advantage of doing so.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

If the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time or within a few seconds, the referee penalises the original offence.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

When advantage is played on a cautionable offence, the caution is still issued but is delayed until the next stoppage in play.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

If advantage is played on a sending-off offence and the offender then plays the ball or challenges an opponent, the referee stops play and sends the player off.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

When more than one offence occurs at the same time, the referee punishes the more serious one, judged by sanction, restart, physical severity and tactical impact.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

Where one act carries a caution and another a sending-off, the more serious sanction applies and the player is sent off.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

Advantage can be applied anywhere on the field; if the promising attack does not come off within a few seconds, the referee returns and penalises the foul.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

A disciplinary sanction after play has restarted is only possible if another match official identified and communicated the offence before the restart.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

Advantage is signalled by extending both arms forward and, usually, calling 'play on'; a raised arm is the signal for an indirect free kick.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

The referee weighs the severity of the offence: for one that warrants a sending-off, play should be stopped unless there is an immediate chance to score.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

For a slight injury the referee allows play to continue until the ball is out of play.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

For a serious injury the referee stops play and ensures the injured player is removed from the field of play for treatment.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

An injured player may not be treated on the field and may only re-enter after play has restarted.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

A collision between a goalkeeper and an outfield player who both need attention is one of the listed exceptions to leaving the field.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

Where the injury results from a foul for which the opponent is cautioned or sent off, the player may stay and be treated quickly on the field.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

An injury to the goalkeeper is an express exception, so the goalkeeper does not have to leave the field for treatment.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

Any card is shown before the injured player leaves the field for treatment, so the sanction is recorded against the right player at the right moment.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

A player who is bleeding must leave the field and may only return once the bleeding has stopped and after a check.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

When play is stopped for injury and no offence has been committed, it is restarted with a dropped ball where the ball was when play stopped.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

A suspected concussion is treated as a severe injury: the referee stops play immediately, and such a case is among the exceptions that allow treatment without leaving the field.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

The compulsory equipment is a whistle, a watch, red and yellow cards, and a notebook or other means of keeping a match record.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

Communication systems, tracking equipment and body cameras are permitted where competition rules allow, but only the whistle, watch, cards and record are compulsory.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

Match officials, like players, may not wear jewellery; only the permitted equipment and a timing watch are allowed.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

The Law states that decisions regarding facts connected with play, including whether a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

The referee may change a decision only on realising it is incorrect or on the advice of another match official, and only before play restarts.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

Once play has restarted the referee may not change the previous decision, even on realising it was wrong.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied

Video assistance is limited to goal / no goal, penalty / no penalty, direct red card (not a second caution), and mistaken identity, with an optional corner-kick category.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

The video assistant referee only intervenes for a clear and obvious error or a serious missed incident, not for marginal calls.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

The referee always makes the final decision, whether based on information from the video assistant or on an on-field review of the footage.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · recall

Once play has restarted, only mistaken identity or a potential sending-off offence such as violent conduct may still be reviewed.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 5 · applied