The Fourth Official

• The fourth official may be appointed under the competition rules and officiates if any of the three match officials is unable to continue.
• Prior to the start of the competition, the organiser states clearly whether, if the referee is unable to continue, the fourth official takes over as the match referee or whether the senior assistant referee takes over as referee with the fourth official becoming an assistant referee.
• The fourth official assists with any administrative duties before, during and after the match, as required by the referee.
• He is responsible for assisting with substitution procedures during the match.
• He supervises the replacement footballs, where required. If the match ball has to be replaced during a match, he provides another ball, on the instruction of the referee, thus keeping the delay to a minimum.
• He has the authority to check the equipment of substitutes before they enter the field of play. If their equipment does not comply with the Laws of the Game, he informs the assistant referee, who then informs the referee.
• The fourth official assists the referee at all times.
• After the match, the fourth official must 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 referees. The fourth official must advise the referee and his assistants of any report being made.