Man City VS Man UTD IFA

RefereeIFA

Referee Guide

Referee Guide & Situations

Complete guide for officiating matches and handling situations

Steps of Refereeing a Match

STEP 1: Claiming Matches
Check Available Matches & Claim
1.1: Check what matches you can referee in the #matches-2-claim channel
1.2: Ping the staff to claim the match you want to referee
STEP 2: Match Setup
Prepare and Start the Match
Key Actions:
• Go to your assigned match channel
• Ask if managers are ready 10 minutes before match
• Start the stage once both teams are ready
• Ask one player to stream the match
• If neither can stream, tell them to film the goals and stream it to the audience
FINAL STEP: Reporting Results
Submit Match Report
Final Actions:
• When match ends, head to the #match-results channel
• Write all statistics in the format that is pinned in that same channel
• Include: Final score, cards issued, significant events

Potential Match Situations

Player Disconnects During the Match

The game will not be paused during the attack. The match will only pause when the ball goes out of play (e.g., for a corner, goal kick, or throw-in).

Once the ball goes out of play:

  • Pause the timer with :sbpause
  • Notify both teams about the disconnect
  • Allow a maximum of 5 minutes for the player to reconnect
  • Reassign the goalkeeper role to the player with :gk (user) home/away if they reconnect

If the player does not reconnect within the 5-minute window:

  • Substitute the player with :stm (user) home/away
  • Resume the match with :sbstart

Ball Gets Stuck

  • Anchor the ball using :anchor
  • Roll the ball to the nearest appropriate team/player with :b (user)

Server Lag or Technical Issues

  • Pause the timer with :sbpause
  • Notify both teams and assess if the match can continue
  • If the issue persists and affects gameplay, consider rescheduling the match

Last Man

Rule: Fouling the last attacker in a 1-on-1 situation results in a red card and suspension. Clearing the ball with a tackle is exempt.

Penalty: Red card/game suspension
Appeal Status: Yes, with a clip

Ball is Interfered with by a Non-Player

  • Pause the timer with :sbpause
  • Anchor the ball and remove the interfering entity using :kick (user) if it’s a spectator
  • Resume play by awarding a drop ball (:b (user)) to the team that last had possession

Improper Goal Claims & Referee Decisions

Rule: Challenging referee decisions without valid proof or using disrespectful language is prohibited.

Penalty: First offense: Warning. Repeated offenses: Sanctions
Appeal Status: Yes, with proof

Time-Wasting by a Team

  • Warn the team about the behavior
  • If they continue, stop the timer and anchor the ball using :anchor
  • Award an indirect free kick to the opposing team at the spot of the time-wasting

Goal Disputed (Lag or Glitch)

  • Anchor the ball immediately with :anchor
  • Review the situation if possible (replays or team captain confirmation)

If the goal is invalid, reset the match to the previous state:

  • Award a free kick or appropriate restart to the opposing team
  • Remove the goal from the scoreboard
  • Use :sbtime to adjust the time

Unauthorized Player on the Field

Stop the match and anchor the ball with :anchor

If caught within the first 30 minutes of the game:
  • The referee removes the unauthorized player using :kick (user)
  • The player is issued a red card (:rc (user)) and their team continues with one less player
  • Resume the match once the issue is resolved
If caught after 30 minutes of gameplay:
  • This is not the referee’s responsibility to enforce proactively but the team manager’s responsibility to ensure compliance
  • The match is declared an automatic forfeit for the team fielding the unauthorized player

Unsure Decision During the Match

  • Pause the match using :sbpause
  • Announce to the audience or participants that clips are being requested for review (e.g., “Referee is requesting clips for clarification of an unclear situation.”)
  • Review any clips submitted by the audience, focusing only on factual evidence and not on their opinions or commentary
  • Make a decision based solely on the evidence from the clips
  • Communicate the final decision to both teams using :m (message) and resume the match with :sbstart
Important Note:
Referees should avoid frequent reliance on audience clips to maintain authority and credibility.

Delay

Rule: Goals resulting from server bugs or delayed ball mechanics may be disallowed unless caused by goalkeeper lag.

Decision: Depends on referee review
Appeal Status: Yes, with a clip

IFA Referee Rules

Extra Time Rule for Referees

In situations where there is significant time-wasting or time loss during the game, referees are required to restrict extra time to a maximum of 9 minutes.

If there is minimal time-wasting or time loss, referees may add less extra time as appropriate.

The referee’s decision on the amount of extra time added is final and must be communicated clearly to both teams before the extra time begins.

Exceeding the Extra Time Limit:
  • If the referee exceeds the 9-minute extra time limit, any goals scored after the 9th minute (unless the attacking phase began before the 9th minute) will not be counted, and the match will end immediately
  • Teams must provide a clip of the disallowed goal(s) to verify the time at which the goal(s) occurred
  • Referees who repeatedly exceed the 9-minute extra time limit will face disciplinary action, including potential strikes or removal from officiating duties

Purpose: This rule ensures that matches do not drag on unnecessarily due to time-wasting or delays, while maintaining fairness and accountability for referees.

Penalty: Goals scored after the 9th minute (not on attack) will be disallowed. Referees who exceed the limit may receive strikes or be removed from officiating
Appeal Status: Yes (A clip must be provided to verify the time of the disallowed goal(s))

Professional Conduct

Referees must remain unbiased and professional throughout the match. Personal opinions or favoritism are prohibited.

Violation Penalty: Warning or suspension based on severity

Punctuality and Preparation

  • Referees must arrive at least 15 minutes before the match to ensure readiness
  • Review all necessary commands and game rules prior to starting
Violation Penalty: Reassignment or disqualification from future matches

Command Usage

Referees must use approved commands as outlined in the Referee Command Guide. Misuse of commands, such as rolling players incorrectly, will result in review.

Violation Penalty: Official warning or retraining

Rule Enforcement

Referees must strictly enforce IFA rules without exceptions unless directed by the league management.

Examples:

  • Time-wasting penalties must be issued promptly
  • Illegal players must be removed immediately
Violation Penalty: Review and potential suspension

Communication with Teams

  • Maintain clear communication with team captains for any decisions, stoppages, or disputes
  • Use announcements (:m) to notify all players of match updates or decisions
Violation Penalty: Warning or reassignment

Appeals and Clips

  • Ensure that any disputed decision is supported by a replay or clip
  • Accept appeals if valid clips are provided within league deadlines
Violation Penalty: Official review for failure to adhere

Match Abandonment

If a match cannot continue due to extreme circumstances (e.g., server issues, mass disconnects):

  • Resume only if the issue is resolved within a reasonable time
  • Pause the timer
  • Notify both teams and league management
Violation Penalty: Reassignment or disqualification from future matches

Match Outcome

Submit a full match report after every game, including:

  • Final score
  • Cards issued
  • Any significant events or incidents
Violation Penalty: Reassignment for failure to submit timely reports

Integrity in Decision-Making

Referees must make decisions based on game rules and match events, not external pressures.

Violation Penalty: Disqualification from future matches or permanent removal

Focus and Conduct

Referees must remain fully attentive to the game they are officiating. Engaging in distractions such as eating, playing other games, or multitasking during the match is strictly prohibited.

Violation Penalty: Warning for the first offense. Repeated offenses may result in suspension or removal from the referee team

Respect for All Participants

Treat all players, managers, and staff with respect, regardless of circumstances.

Violation Penalty: Immediate suspension for disrespectful or inappropriate behavior

Conflict of Interest

Referees are strictly prohibited from officiating matches involving their own teams, including any team they are managing, coaching, or playing for.

Violation Penalty: Immediate removal from the match, reassignment, and potential suspension from future refereeing duties
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