Question Number: 23017

Law 5 - The Referee 3/27/2010

RE: Competetive (Classic) Under 12

Ann of Fayetteville, NC USA asks...

We played a match today in which the center referee removed herself from as head referee half way through the second half, exchanging places with one of the assistants. Is this allowed?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ann
Yes this is allowed and it happens when the referee is injured or feels unwell. The referee is like any other person on the field of play and he/she can pick up muscle injuries, strains, sprains etc. To keep up with play it is important that the referee can run. The game was fortunate that it had qualified assistants so that the change could be made.
I recall a number of seasons ago and with 15 minutes to go in a game I tore a calf muscle on a sprint. I literally could not run forward. I could move backwards with discomfort. Anyway I explained to both captains of my injury and that I would try to complete the game which I did. At the final whistle I only became aware that a colleague was at the game. Had I been aware of that at the time of the injury I could have handed over the duties to him for the last 15 minutes . If I could not continue I would have to abandon the game. Maybe if I had done that at the time I would have been approached by my colleague with him taking over.
The change is simply reported in the match facts to the relevant authority.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Yes, assuming the assistants are certified referees.

Last summer, we had a match in which this actually happened twice. The referee sprained an ankle in the first half, and the assistant referee who replaced him sprained his ankle during the second half. The match was completed by the other assistant referee.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You would never see this at the highest levels of the game. There if a referee is unfit to continue the game, she wouldn't be fit enough to be an AR either. But there is a 4th official ready and waiting to finish the game. And at the World Cup (and perhaps some other very high level competitions) there is even a reserve official waiting to go just in case one of the AR's must withdraw.

Local youth leagues and amateur leagues? There's no one else around. If the ref must withdraw, one of the AR's must take over or the game must be abandoned. Sometimes the referee might be able to assist, and so would stay on the sideline even if not able to do a full-fledged job of it.