The Assistant Referee in Football: Duties of the Linesman

Assistant referees are an essential part of a football match. They assist the main referee in making decisions and ensure the quality of the game.

Main Duties

Determining offside decisions is the most important task. Determining if the ball has completely crossed the line (throw-in and goal kick). Deciding whether it is a corner kick or a goal kick. Providing information about events that the main referee did not see.

Flag Signals

Raising the flag upwards — the game must be stopped. Holding the flag down at a 45-degree angle — indicating the direction of offside. Holding the flag flat against the chest — substitution request. Every signal must be clear and fast.

The VAR Era

Since the introduction of the VAR system, the possibility of assistant referees making mistakes in offside decisions has decreased. However, they are still important because VAR does not check every single situation. The assistant referee makes the initial decision, and VAR intervenes only in clear errors.

The work of an assistant referee is difficult and responsible — next time, please respect their hard work.