Laws 5 of Football

In today’s edition, we are going to look at Law 5 of football which is the Referee.
A referee is somebody who has been appointed to officiate a match and has the authority and powers granted to him by the law of the game as soon as he enters the field of play. His powers of penalizing shall extend to offences committed when the play has been temporarily suspended or when the ball is out of play.  His decision on points of fact connected with the play shall be final.  He shall:
• Enforce the laws.
• Refrain from penalizing in cases where he is satisfied that, by doing so, he would be giving an advantage to the offending team.
• The referee also keep a record of the game, act as a timekeeper and allow the full agreed time, adding thereto all time lost through accident or other cause.
• The referee has discretionary powers to stop the game for any infringement of the laws and to suspend or terminate the game whenever, by reason of the elements, interference by the spectators, or other cause
• He deems such stoppage necessary in accordance with the provisions set up the national association under whose jurisdiction the match was played.
• The report will deemed to be made when received in the ordinary course of post from the time he enters the field of play caution and show cards to any player guilty of misconduct or ungentlemanly behaviour
• In such a cases the referee shall send the name of the offender to the competent authority within the stipulated time and in accordance with the provisions set up by the national association under whose jurisdiction the match was played
• The referee will allow no person other than the players and assistant referees to enter the field of play without his permission
• He also stops the game if in his opinion a player has been seriously injured and have the player removed as soon as possible from the field of play and immediately resume the game
• And if a player is slightly injured the game shall not be stopped until the ball has ceased to be in play.  A player, who is able to go to the touch –or goal –line for attention of any kind, shall not be treated on the field of play.        
• The referee shall show a red card to any player who, in his opinion, is guilty of violent conduct, serious foul play, the use of foul or abusive language, or is guilty of a second cautionable offence.
• The referee signals for recommencement of the game after all stoppages.
• The referee decides that the ball provided for a match meets with the requirements of law two.