Question Number: 19275

Law 6 - Assistant Referee 6/5/2008

RE: comp Adult

alex of gosford, nsw australia asks...

Is a linesman allowed to officate a game in which his child is the goal keeper?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

We may have a difference of terms here. "Linesman" has been absent from the Laws of the Game for a decade.

Law 6 says, "Two assistant referees are appointed whose duties ..." and then it goes on. The Laws do not contemplate a situation where all 3 referees do not appear at a game. The Assistant Referee (AR) as described in the Laws is a neutral official. Therefore it would be inappropriate for one to be appointed at a game in which his child is playing. But referee assignors do not know all the relationships between referees, players and teams. I was approached by an embarrassed assistant referee and his mother before the game. It seems his brother was one of the players. Until the family was coordinating schedules and transportation on Friday evening, they didn't realize there was a conflict on Saturday morning. They immediately called our assignor, who said it was unlikely she could find a substitute so we should explain the situation to the other team, and as long as they had no objection we would carry on.

We all know that despite the lofty aims of FIFA, not every game has assistant referees. In that case we usually appoint one or two of the spectators to assist. Here in the US these assistants are known as "club lines", a term that both avoids the politically incorrect '-man' suffix and points out the relationship of the person to the team. "Club" means this is someone who is associated with or has an interest in the football club. Various local and national rules and traditions define the duties of a club line. Here in the US, we are directed to only let them indicate the ball out of play, not fouls or offside. Since a club line is associated with the team, it is likely that he or she will be a parent, sibling or other relative of a player.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Yes, but ethically the assistant should give up the match.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

It's frowned upon almost everywhere for a member of the referee crew to be related to players or personnel of either team. At youth matches we sometimes allow it but talk with both coaches first. I got quite a laugh over a coach yelling at his son for an offside call that went against him.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Well...that is probably a conflict of interest. The AR could make the game determining call. Example - is the ball over the line or not for a goal or was the goal scorer offside. Many assignors take the attitude that it is ok to have somone affiliated with a team just run a line. I completly disagree as the AR can often make the most important call of the game.

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