Directives (2)

2. The Role of the Fourth Official
2008/09 Directives

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A fourth official will be appointed to certain rounds of FA Competitions and all matches in the FA Premier League and the Football League and officiates if any of the three match officials are unable to continue
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If the fourth official is a Referee he may replace any of the three match officials if they are unable to continue
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Panel League Referee Seniority, regardless of position in the match, will take precedence in the event of the appointed referee being unable to continue when a referee has not been appointed as fourth official
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The fourth official shall be conscious of competition rules and act accordingly




Before the Match

The Fourth Official:

* shall remind the coaches that they must remain within the confines of the technical area during the match
* shall instruct the physio/doctor that they must not enter the field of play without first receiving the permission of the referee
* will ascertain, prior to the match, the location he will occupy near to the touchline, between the technical areas where possible, for the duration of the game
* will ensure that the electronic number boards used for the substitution of players and for indicating ‘time-allowed’ is in place
* shall check the pressure of all the replacement footballs. He will provide a replacement football, on the instruction of the referee except in matches where the multiple ball system is in use.
* Shall, where the multi-ball system is in use, ascertain the name and location of the person who is supervising the system
* shall listen to the pre-match instructions issued by the referee and ascertain what procedure should be followed if the referee or one of the assistant referees are unable to continue

During the Match

The Fourth Official

* assists the referee at all times. He shall maintain frequent eye contact with the match officials
* will indicate to the referee when the wrong player is cautioned because of mistaken identity or when a player is not sent off having been seen to be given a second caution will bring to the attention of the referee acts of violent conduct which occur out of the view of the referee or assistant referees
* shall keep a full record of the game, including details of any players cautioned or sent-off
* shall be in charge of substitutions and whether the substitutes equipment is in order. He shall indicate substitutions by holding up, to display the numbers, the number board provided for this purpose. The fourth official shall record the exact times that substitutions are made
* Shall not communicate their estimation of the allowance for time lost to the referee but await the referee’s instruction of the minimum amount of time to be allowed. The Electronic substitution board is not to be used as a method of communicating, to the referee, a confirmatory signal. On 45 and 90 minutes display the amount of ‘time allowed’ on the board provided
* will monitor the entry into the field of play by the physio/doctor/stretcher bearers allowing such entry only with the permission of the referee
* will supervise the technical area to maintain order and inform the referee of irresponsible behaviour by any occupant of the technical area. Irresponsible behaviour may be defined as, but not exclusive to: - any person who leaves the technical area to remonstrate with the Referee, an Assistant Referee, opponents or members of the opposition technical area - any act of abusive, insulting, offensive or threatening language and/or gesture - persistently failing to comply with the Laws of the Game, League Regulations, Competition Rules or the request of the fourth official
* shall ensure that only those personnel named on the official teamsheet occupy the technical area and, where a coach has conveyed tactical instructions to the players during a match he returns to his position after giving those instructions
* should advise the Referee of any verbal abuse from occupants within the Technical Area
* is expected to control the technical area in a preventative rather than confrontational manner. If the occupants of the technical area indulge in serious misconduct the fourth official must inform the referee immediately
* Is expected to stand, where this is practicable, during the game
* Shall communicate to the person responsible for the multi-ball replacement system, if operable, any decision taken by the referee to withdraw permission for its use.

After the Match

The Fourth Official

* shall subject to the instructions of the referee position himself appropriately to enable supervision of the players and officials through the tunnel area to the dressing rooms and act as witness if any incident occurs
* shall assist the referee in the preparation of a full match report, including details of misconduct, substitutions, and other incidents as required.
* shall advise the referee of any breach of the Technical Area regulations
* shall submit a report to the appropriate authorities on any misconduct or other incident, which has occurred out of the view of the referee and the assistant referee.

The fourth official must advise the referee of any reports being made The fourth official assists the referee and assistant referees at all times. This will involve being pro-active in any dealings with players, substitutes and club officials, especially during the match.