Law 5 – The Referees

1. The authority of the referees

Each match is controlled by two referees – the referee and the second referee – who have full authority to enforce the Futsal Laws of the Game in connection with the match.

2. Decisions of the referees

The decisions of the referees regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.

The decisions of the referees, and all other match officials, must always be respected.

The referees may not change a restart decision on realising it is incorrect or on the advice of another match official if play has restarted or the referees have signalled to confirm the end of the first or second period (including extra time) and left the pitch and its vicinity after the timekeeper has sounded the acoustic signal, or the match has been abandoned.

Sometimes, one of the assistant referees indicates/communicates a YC/RC offence but the referees do not see the indication or hear the communication until after play has restarted. The referees can still take the appropriate disciplinary action, but the restart associated with the offence does not apply.

The decisions of the referee prevail over those of the second referee whenever there is disagreement between them.

In the event of undue interference or improper conduct, the referee will relieve the second referee or the other match officials of their duties, arrange for them to be substituted and make a report to the appropriate authorities.

3. Powers and duties

The referees:

• enforce the Futsal Laws of the Game;

• control the match in cooperation with the other match officials, where applicable;

• ensure that any ball used meets the requirements of Law 2;

• ensure that the players’ equipment meets the requirements of Law 4;

• keep a record of match incidents;

• stop the match, at their discretion, for any offences against the Futsal Laws of the Game;

• stop, suspend or abandon the match due to any other issue, such as because of outside interference; e.g. if:

  • the floodlights are inadequate;
  • an object thrown/kicked by a spectator hits a match official, player, substitute or team official – the referee may allow the match to continue or stop, suspend or abandon it depending on the severity of the incident;
  • a spectator blows a whistle which interferes with play – play is stopped and restarted with a dropped ball;
  • an extra ball, other object or animal enters the pitch during the match – the referees must:

• stop play (and restart with a dropped ball) if it interferes with play, unless the ball

is going into the goal and the interference does not prevent a defending-team player playing the ball; in such cases, the goal is awarded if the ball enters the goal (even if contact was made with the ball) unless the interference was by the attacking team;

• allow play to continue otherwise and have it removed at the earliest possible

opportunity;

• stop play if, in their opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensure that the player is removed from the pitch. An injured player, including a goalkeeper, may not be treated on the pitch, may only return to the pitch after the match has restarted and must re-enter the pitch from their team’s substitution zone. The only exceptions to the requirement to leave the pitch are when:
  • players from the same team have collided and need attention;
  • a severe injury has occurred;
  • a player is injured as a result of a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned or sent off (e.g. a reckless or serious foul challenge), if the assessment/ treatment is completed quickly;
  • a penalty kick has been awarded and the injured player will be the kicker;
  • a penalty kick has been awarded and the injured player will be the goalkeeper;
• ensure that any player bleeding leaves the pitch. The player may only re-enter on receiving a signal from the referees, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped and there is no blood on the equipment;
• ensure that, if the doctors and/or stretcher-bearers have been authorised to enter the pitch, the player leaves on a stretcher or on foot. A player who does not comply must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour;
• show the relevant caution or red card, if they have decided to caution or send off a player who is injured and has to leave the pitch for treatment, before the player leaves the pitch;
• in instances when play has been stopped, restart play with a dropped ball if the match has not been stopped for another reason or if an injury suffered by a player is not the result of an offence;
• allow play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in their opinion, only slightly injured;
• allow play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed stands to benefit from such an advantage and penalise the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time or within a few seconds;
• punish the more serious offence when more than one offence occurs at the same time;
• take disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offences. They are not obliged to take this action immediately but must do so when the ball next goes out of play;
• take action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and warn them, caution them or send them off from the pitch and its immediate surrounds, including the technical area. If the offender cannot be identified, the senior coach present in the technical area will receive the sanction. A medical team official who commits a sending-off offence may remain if the team has no other medical person available, and act if a player needs medical attention;
• make a decision with the assistance of the other match officials regarding incidents that the referees have not seen;
• ensure that no unauthorised persons enter the pitch;
• indicate the restart of the match after it has been stopped;
• give the signals described in the section entitled Referee and Other Match Official Signals;
• take a position on and around the pitch as described in the relevant sections of the Practical Guidelines for Futsal Referees and Other Match Officials, when required to do so;
• provide the appropriate authorities with a match report, which includes information on any sanctions imposed on players and/or team officials and any other incidents that occurred before, during or after the match.

The referee:

• acts as the timekeeper and third referee in the event that these two other match officials are not present;
• suspends or abandons the match, at their discretion, for any offences against the Futsal Laws of the Game;
• suspends or abandons the match, at their discretion, because of outside interference of any kind.

The second referee:

• replaces a referee who becomes injured or indisposed.

4. Liability of the match officials

The referees (or where applicable, the other match officials) are not held liable for:

• any kind of injury suffered by a player, official or spectator;
• any damage to property of any kind;
• any other loss suffered by any individual, club, company, association or other body, which is due or which may be due to any decision that they may take under the terms of the Futsal Laws of the Game or in respect of the normal procedures required to hold, play and control a match.

Such decisions may include:

• a decision that the condition of the pitch or its surrounds is such or that the weather conditions are such as to allow or not to allow a match to take place;
• a decision to abandon a match for whatever reason;
• a decision as to the suitability of the accessories, the ball and equipment used during a match;
• a decision to stop or not to stop a match due to spectator interference or any problem in spectator areas;
• a decision to stop or not to stop play to allow an injured player to be removed from the pitch for treatment;
• a decision to require an injured player to be removed from the pitch for treatment (aside from the exceptions listed above);
• a decision to allow or not to allow a player to wear certain apparel or equipment;
• a decision (where they have the authority) to allow or not to allow any persons (including team or venue officials, security officers, photographers or other media representatives) to be present in the vicinity of the pitch;
• any other decision that they may take in accordance with the Futsal Laws of the Game or in conformity with their duties under the terms of FIFA, confederation, national football association or competition rules or regulations under which the match is played.

5. International matches

A second referee is mandatory for international matches.

6. Referees’ equipment

Compulsory equipment

Referees must have the following equipment:

• At least one whistle
• Red and yellow cards
• A notebook (or another means of keeping a record of the match)
• At least one watch

Other equipment

Referees may be permitted to use:

• equipment for communicating with other match officials – headsets, etc.;
• EPTS or other fitness monitoring equipment.

Referees are prohibited from wearing any other electronic equipment, including cameras.

Referees and other match officials are also prohibited from wearing jewellery (although the referee is permitted to wear a watch or similar device to time the match if the timekeeper is absent).

7. Video support

The use of video support (VS) is only permitted when the match/competition organisers have fulfilled all the VS protocol and implementation requirements (as set out by FIFA) and received written permission from FIFA.

The referees make use of VS when a team’s head coach (or, in the head coach’s absence, another designated team official) challenges a decision in relation to the following situations:

• Goal/no goal
• Penalty kick/no penalty kick
• Direct red cards
• Mistaken identity

In addition, VS can be used at the referees’ discretion when there is a disagreement between the two referees regarding an incident in one of the above-mentioned categories.

VS can also be used at the referees’ discretion in the following situations:

• If the chronometer malfunctions
• If the chronometer is incorrectly (re)started/stopped by the timekeeper pursuant to the provisions of Laws 6 and 7
• To verify whether a goal has been scored
• To verify whether the ball entered the goal before the acoustic signal for the end of a period

VS involves one or more replays of the incident. The referees will review the replay footage directly and the referee will make the final decision. The initial decision does not change unless the replay footage shows that a “clear and obvious error” was committed or a “serious missed incident” occurred.