Soccer Rules Practice Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The fourth official plays a crucial role in supporting the match officials and ensuring the smooth running of the game, which includes match administration, managing substitutions, and timekeeping. This role involves monitoring the technical area, ensuring the correct players are substituted, and notifying the main referee about any additional time to be added at the end of each half.

While conducting player substitutions is part of their responsibilities, the fourth official does much more than that, as they are also involved in managing the conduct of team officials and players on the sidelines. Although the main referee is primarily in charge during the match, the fourth official’s contributions help maintain order and assist in the enforcement of the rules.

In contrast to officiating the match from the sidelines or serving as a backup referee, the fourth official does not actively referee the game and is not in the position to substitute in for the main referee in case of injury, which is typically the reserve assistant referee’s role.