Question Number: 30882

Law 5 - The Referee 10/10/2016

RE: Grade 7 Adult

Mark Stern of Somerville, MA USA asks...

Is this correct:?
Jim Gordon, Retired soccer ref ('3500 assorted matches), ex-ref instructor, ex-coach, Div...
Updated 24 Sep 2013
A referee may change his decision to either caution (and show the yellow card) or send off (and show the red card) a player, but only if play has not been restarted again.  The referee may (should) consult his assistant referees regarding this decision, to ascertain what they witnessed.  The referee may not consult or take into account any input from any person other than his assistants.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
Yes. All those facts as stated are correct and still part of the revised Laws albeit with improved wording and advice. Assistants now includes Additional Assistant Referees and the 4th Official.
In respect of the use of *may* or *should* clearly the referee if he is changing his mind has a doubt regarding the call which would benefit from the input of an assistant.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Mark,

As Ref McHugh says, this is correct as stated. I should perhaps just mention that at the time (in 2013) the full wording said the ref could only change a decision if ''he has not restarted play or terminated the match.''

In the latest update, although the basic premise remains the same, this has changed slightly, to say that ''The referee may not change a decision [...] if play has restarted or the referee has signalled the end of the first or second half (including extra time) and left the field of play or terminated the match.''