Since the inception of football as an intensely competitive sport, the referees have played a pivotal role in elevating the cut-throat threshold of the game while ensuring fair play on the field at the same time. From announcing penalties to addressing in-game interruptions due to injuries and controversies, the referees have ensured to maintain the integrity of the game for decades. The prominence of match referees has witnessed an incredible upsurge in the past few decades and numerous football referees, including Szymon Marciniak (Poland), Clement Turpin (France), Jesus Gil Manzano (Spain), Daniel Siebert (Germany), Carlos del Cerro Grande (Spain), Daniele Orsato (Italy) and many others have garnered enormous attention from the football aficionados for their fair-play and strict adherence to the rules of football. Since referees play a pivotal role in deciding the fate of football teams and their players, they are provided with all the resources that are required for the smooth running of the game.
Referee Football Kit
Similar to other competitive sports like wrestling and cricket, football also involves the match referees wearing their official uniform to fulfill their officiating duties. The football kit includes a tracksuit, a jersey, shots with a back pocket and soccer shoes. The uniform provided for the referee officiating the football match is designed and manufactured with precision to withstand all the harsh weather conditions on the field. Additionally, the shoes that are provided as a part of the referee’s football kit are durable and comfortable enough to allow the referee to be in full action on the football field.
Whistle
Football aficionados can easily relate Football to a shrill sound that the referees make during a football match. The referees are provided with a whistle for multiple purposes. The referees generally blow the whistle at case of commencement and conclusion of the football match, to register a foul, to intervene in the ongoing match due to an injury, to indicate a penalty or a free kick and to indicate the continuation of the game after a temporary stoppage due to injuries, controversies or substitution of a football player on the field.
Red and Yellow Cards
These rectangular-shaped red and yellow cards decide the fate of the football players and their teams competing on the ground for the coveted titles. The referee gives yellow and red cards to the football players to penalize or dismiss them from the ongoing match. The yellow card is generally issued to football players for persistent fouling and time-wasting issues. On the other hand, the red card is a nightmare for footballers that leads to their instant dismissal from the game and is issued in cases of violent conduct, serious foul play, for using abusive language or gestures. Additionally, the second yellow card leads to an instant dismissal of the player.
Spray Can
It was introduced in the early 2010s and is also called “vanishing foam” as it disappears quickly from the field without leaving any residue. Popularly referred to as “the referee’s foam”, the spray can is provided to the football referee to mark the position of the football and the free-kick space. While the referee announces a free-kick, he draws a line on the field where the football is kept and a line at a distance that is considered to be a defensive wall. The referee’s foam ensures strict adherence to the rules concerning the position and distance of the game.
Pen and Notepad
A football referee is also provided with a pen and notepad to traditionally write down the names of the penalized football players who have been handed red and yellow cards during the match for their unjustifiable and offensive behavior on the field.
Assistant Referee’s Flag
The assistant’s referee flag plays a crucial role in football matches, It is often used by the assistants, referred to as the linesmen, to indicate to the on-field referee about the offside, fouls and corner kicks and substitutions.
Digital Watch
Timing plays a key role in the game of football and the referees are designated to keep a watch on every second of the game. To ensure the accuracy of timing in the match, the referees are provided with a digital watch. In addition to letting them know about the remaining time before the match comes to an end, these digital watches also have an in-built specification that allows the referees to ensure fair play on the field. These high-tech digital watches buzz once the ball crosses the line.
Communication Device
Similar to other mainstream sports like cricket, the on-field referee officiating the match isn’t the only one keeping an eye on the tactical and statistical parts of the game. Instead, a whole panel of referees and professionals monitor the game in diverse aspects. The on-field referees are provided with a two-way communication device that allows them to communicate with the linesmen and virtual assistant referee (VAR) during the ongoing match.
Number Board
To maintain transparency related to timings and substitutions, the referees are provided with a number board that is generally used by the on-field referees to signal when the team demands a substitute, displaying the timer to indicate the time taken by the team during the substitution process. The number boards make sure that the game is managed with all the transparency and fair play that it demands.
