An additional assistant referee (front) watches during the UEFA Europa League soccer match between Benfica and BATE Borisov at Luz stadium in Lisbon September 17, 2009. The rebranded UEFA Cup competition is to feature an additional assistant referee beside each goal to help judge whether players have dived in the penalty box and committed fouls at set-pieces, and also determine if the ball has crossed the goal-line. (REUTERS/Nacho Doce)
Today marked the launch of the Additional Assistant Referee (AAR) at the senior professional level in soccer. The Europa League saw the introduction of a 5-person referee crew. A background paper released by FIFA explains the objectives of the experiment along with the duties of the newly appointed AARs.
The first objective of the AAR experiment is to “enhance the control of the match” in key areas of the field of play. They particularly stress the area inside and near the penalty area. The extra pair of eyes will help support the referee, identify infringements, reduce match-changing errors, and deter players from committing infringements. The second object that stands on its own bullet point (and underlined) is to improve the game. These objectives do not imply any change to the Laws of the Game.
The new additional assistant referee (R) watches Lazio's Mauro Zarate (C) and Salzburg's Ibrahim Sekagya during their Europa League soccer match at the Olympic stadium in Rome September 17, 2009. The rebranded UEFA Cup competition is to feature an additional assistant referee beside each goal to help judge whether players have dived in the penalty box and committed fouls at set-pieces, and also determine if the ball has crossed the goal-line. (REUTERS/Tony Gentile)
FIFA makes the duties of the AAR very simple. Their duties are to “help the referee control the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game, particularly inside the penalty area or when the additional assistant referee has a better view than the referee.” The final decision is always left to the referee.
The position of the AAR places them on the opposite side of the goal from the assistant referee, or to the left when viewed from the center circle. This gives the referee team the “widest possible cover of the penalty area.” FIFA allows the AAR to enter the field of play but never to enter the goal area. Their position on the field is not to pass the penalty area line or the player nearest to goal. Sideways movement along the goal line is permitted while play is inside the penalty area to “create the angle with the best view.”
The AAR is not given a flag or instructions for any sort of signaling. At this level of play, the entire referee crew is outfitted with a radio communication system to speak with each other. If the AAR observes an act of misconduct or the scoring of a goal, they communicate it directly over the radio to the entire referee team.
The referee team wears the same uniform color and works as a team to cover all areas of the field. FIFA specifies that AAR assignments are handed to active referees from the FIFA International List or from the highest category at national level. The entire referee team is to be of the same nationality.
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