Assistant referee (association football)

An assistant referee in association football (soccer) is a member of the officiating team who assists the main referee in controlling the match. Previously known as linesmen, assistant referees are positioned along the touchlines and at the corners of the field to provide valuable information and observations to the referee.

Responsibilities:

• Offside: The primary responsibility of an assistant referee is to indicate when a player is in an offside position, a crucial rule in preventing players from gaining an unfair advantage by lingering near the opponent's goal. They do this by raising their flag to signal the offense.
• Ball Out of Play: Assistant referees signal when the ball has crossed the touchline or goal line, indicating a throw-in, corner kick, or goal kick, and indicating which team is entitled to the throw-in or corner kick.
• Fouls: They can signal fouls or misconduct that occur near their side of the field, particularly when the referee might have a blocked view. However, the ultimate decision to award a free kick or penalize a player rests with the referee.
• Corner Kicks and Goal Kicks: Assistant referees confirm when a corner kick or goal kick has been correctly taken.
• Substitutions: They often assist with the substitution process, ensuring the correct procedures are followed.
• Penalty Kicks: During penalty kicks, an assistant referee watches to see if the goalkeeper moves off the goal line before the ball is kicked and whether the ball crosses the goal line.
• General Assistance: They provide general assistance to the referee, acting as extra eyes and ears on the field to help ensure fair play and the correct application of the Laws of the Game.

Signals:

Assistant referees use flags to communicate with the referee. Specific flag signals are used to indicate different offenses or situations, such as offside, throw-in direction, and fouls. These signals are standardized to ensure clear communication between the officials.

Number of Assistant Referees:

In most professional and competitive matches, there are two assistant referees. However, additional assistant referees (AARs), also known as additional referees, may be positioned behind the goal lines to focus on incidents within the penalty area. Additionally, the use of a fourth official is common, who assists with administrative tasks, substitutions, and controlling the technical areas.