Question Number: 32219

Law 5 - The Referee 2/7/2018

RE: competitive Under 14

Zac Kalinko of Sydney, NSW Australia asks...

Do you need correct;

1) Field markings
2) Corner flags
3) Halfway flags
4) Correct sized goalposts
5) Goal nets
6) Technical areas

Thank you!

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Zac,
by what definition?
In league play they have bylaws as ROC and if they are affiliated with FIFA they follow the LOTG. A referee might play with discrepancies but report them and allow the league to decide to replay or not. A kids match if the flags are missing, the touchlines wobbly, no designated tech area, no nets, field markings are incorrect as long as the goal posts and crossbar are safe and firm, chances are we can still get the game in. At a pro level or elite competitive somebody's going to get holy crap rained down if the match is delayed or cancelled.
If this was a test 1, 2 and 4 should be correct
3, 5 & 6 are not essential just nice to have!
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Zac,
This sounds rather like a referee quiz question. If so and if it is a quiz that you are using as part of an effort to learn the laws, maybe by reading through the laws and trying to find the answers for yourself it would help you to remember the answers better.

Anyway, my colleague ref Dawson has already given the 'technical' answer to which items are required and which are not.

Having said that, it is also true as he mentions that, especially at lower levels, minor problems could be overlooked so long as safety is maintained. This is backed up in the FAQ to Law 5 in the current laws of the game, where it states that:

''At the lowest levels of football, the referees must use 'common sense' when deciding if a match goes ahead if there is a (minor) problem with the field of play or the equipment. The IFAB believes that the referee should try to play a match unless there is a risk or danger to the participants.''