Questions and Answers:

Part 1 "BENCH LAWS"                      Back to the top of  this page.

1a. The Technical Area details as shown in the Laws of the Game are as follows:-

The technical area relates to matches played in stadiums with a designated seated area for technical staff and substitutes as described below.

While the size and position of technical areas may differ between stadiums, the following notes are issued for general guidance:

• the technical area extends 1 m (1 yd) on either side of the designated seated area and extends forward up to a distance of 1 m (1 yd) from the touch line
• it is recommended that markings are used to define this area
• the number of persons permitted to occupy the technical area is defined by the competition rules
• the occupants of the technical area are identified before the beginning of the match in accordance with the competition rules
• only one person at a time is authorised to convey tactical instructions from the technical area
• the coach and other officials must remain within its confines except in special circumstances, for example, a physiotherapist or doctor entering the field of play, with the referee's permission, to assess an injured player
• the coach and other occupants of the technical area must behave in a responsible manner
• A fourth official may be appointed under the competition rules and officiates if any of the three match officials is unable to continue, unless a reserve assistant referee is appointed. He assists the referee at all times
• Prior to the start of the competition, the organiser states clearly whether, if the referee is unable to continue, the fourth official takes over as the referee or whether the senior assistant referee takes over as referee with the fourth official becoming an assistant referee
• The fourth official assists with any administrative duties before, during and after the match, as required by the referee
• He is responsible for assisting with substitution procedures during the match
• He has the authority to check the equipment of substitutes before they enter the field of play, If their equipment does not comply with the Laws of the Game, he informs the referee
• He supervises the replacement balls, where required, If the match ball has to be replaced during a match, he provides another ball, on the instruction of the referee, thus keeping the delay to a minimum
• He must indicate to the referee when the wrong player is cautioned because of mistaken identity or when a player is not sent off having been seen to be given a second caution or when violent conduct occurs out of the view of the referee and assistant referees. The referee, however, retains the authority to decide on all points connected with play
• After the match, the fourth official must submit a report to the appropriate authorities on any misconduct or other incident that occurred out of the view of the referee and the assistant referees. The fourth official must advise the referee and his assistants of any report being made
• He has the authority to inform the referee of irresponsible behaviour by any occupant of the technical area
• A reserve assistant referee may also be appointed under competition rules.
• His only duty shall be to replace an assistant referee who is unable to continue or to replace the fourth official, as required

Part 2 "EXTRA HIDDEN DETAILS"                              Back to the top of   this page.

The following details can also relate to grounds where there is no specifically marked ‘Technical Area’.

2a. Competition rules should state exactly who is allowed in the ‘Technical Area’, if they don’t -  you will have to use your common sense if there are no markings to define the ‘Technical Area’

2b. A Referee - from the moment they step onto the field of play before the start of a game, to the end of the game, including any half-time or extra-time intervals - can Red/Yellow card a substitute. They can also report - at any time - misconduct committed by a Club Official, who can then be instructed (under the Referees' Powers, Law 5) to leave the ‘bench’ and move to an area away from the touch-line and away from the near vicinity of the field of play. If a person responsible for treating the needs of the players is disciplined, they may be allowed to stay within the ‘Technical Area’ - to administer any treatment during the game.

2d. It can sometimes be very difficult to identify whether a person within the ‘Technical Area’ is an official or a supporter. Be polite when enquiring.

2e. If a Fourth Official is appointed, that Fourth Official will normally be responsible for "looking after the bench" and to bring to the Referee's attention any misconduct emanating from there. The Fourth Official assists the Referee at all times. He must indicate to the Referee if a wrong player is cautioned because of mistaken identity or when a player is not sent off having been seen to be given a second caution or when violent conduct occurs out of the view of the referee and Assistant Referees. This increases the authority of the Fourth Official and allows him to take action in situations not concerned with actual play. The Referee, however, retains the authority to decide on all points connected with play. 

2f. Substitutions:  Tell the 'Bench' to let you (the Fourth Official or Assistant Referee) know when a substitution is required.  If you are the Assistant Referee, raise and hold your flag above your head when the ball goes out of play, to attract the Referee's attention.  The Assistant Referee (or Fourth Official if one is appointed) takes control of the substitution. The outgoing player may leave the field at the nearest boundary line, and must be off the field of play before the substitute can enter.  The substitute must enter at the halfway line. Ensure that you have a list of the nominated substitutes before the game commences. Make a note of the ongoing substitutes names and numbers.

Part 3 "NUISANCE FACTOR"                              Back to the top of  this page.

The Referee should brief their Fourth Official or Assistant Referees on how to manage the ‘Bench’.

Referee's Instructions could contain the following:

3a. “Ignore the usual banter from the ‘Bench’ but bring to my attention any very bad language such as usage of the ‘F’ & ‘C’ words particularly directed at the Referee, Assistant Referees, Fourth Official or players, clearly aimed at destroying the game or inciting the players. Remember exactly what was said. Attract my attention at the next stoppage in play, by raising your flag and stepping onto the field of play. I will then consult with you away from others. If I need to approach the ‘Bench’ we will do so together. You will stand alongside me, facing the field of play with your back to the ‘Bench’, keeping an eye on the players on the field of play. I will do all the talking, but listen for any reaction which may need to be mentioned in any report.”

3b. “You (the Fourth Official or Assistant Referee) can control the person(s) giving instruction to players; but this must only be one person at a time.” Tactical instructions may be given by different team officials during the match provided they behave in a responsible manner.

3b. “Do not get distracted by looking towards the ‘Bench’- wait until there is a natural stoppage in play. Be absolutely certain who is involved in any misconduct - and exactly what was said or done if you wish to consult me. I (the Referee) can give a general warning or may report any serious ‘Bench’ misconduct if you (the Fourth Official or  Assistant Referee) are unable to see exactly who the culprit is.”

3c. A Club is responsible for its spectators and should take action to ensure their good behaviour. On no account should the Referee, Fourth Official or the Assistant Referee approach or react to spectators directly. Use the Club officials or at the very least - the team captain to resolve any problems. The Fourth Oficial, and/or the Assistant Referee will need to learn how to switch-off completely from the ‘crowd (and sometimes the ‘Bench’, to enable full concentration to be given to the game itself; this can be difficult.

Part 4 "COMMON SENSE"              Back to the top of  this page.

4a. It's up to the individual Referee, to decide  which touchline his Assistant Referees patrol. There is nothing in the Laws to stipulate otherwise.

The Referee will normally run a diagonal from one corner flag to the other, diagonally across the field of play during the game. The Assistant Referees will be asked to run respective touchlines, depending on which diagonal the Referee runs during a game.

Most Referees like to keep their Assistant Referees patrolling the same touchline in both halves of the game. But some Referees ask their Assistant Referees to swap touchlines in the second half, and some have been known on the odd occasion to make their Assistant Referees run the far end of the same touchline that they patrolled in the first half. The general method, is to keep Assistants on the same touchline throughout the game. When there is no Fourth Official - the senior Assistant normally takes the 'Bench' side (because he is more experienced in dealing with unruly 'bench' occupants.)

When there is no Fourth Official, some points for the Referee to consider before deciding which touchline his Assistants should patrol are as follows:

Look for the 'geography' of the respective 'Benches' during the pre-match pitch inspection. Is the technical area marked? Are the 'dug-outs' near to each other? Are they big enough to contain the permitted occupants - if not, where will the occupants stand? Are they allowed to stand? Is one bigger than the other and better equipped thus giving an advantage to one team? Will the Assistant Referee run past the 'benches' on his allocated touchline or near enough to control and keep an eye on them?

4b. Be courteous at all times to both substitutes and officials (and the crowd) even in the face of extreme provocation.

  A polite :  "Hello, is  everything OK? - let me know when you want a sub. on”,

will allow you the first chance to use your man-management skills in making a first impression before things start to go wrong. Do not create any ill-feeling or conflict by trying to be officious or petty with 'Bench' officials.

4c. Treat any proper enquiries from the ‘Bench’ in a polite way - but be firm when the queries become heated or vigorous.

Beware of constant requests for "How much time left lino !"

You could also ‘glower’ at any perpetrator, or inform the occupants that you have reached the end of your tolerance, and will bring to the Referee’s attention, any further trouble. Tell them that the Laws of the Game state that they must behave in a responsible manner, this also refers to officials and substitutes when there is no recognised ‘Bench’.

4d.You can usually ignore most of the usual ‘Bench’ banter, but you ignore ALL comments at your peril. Don’t ignore challenges to your authority because they can destroy a game. Try and stamp down on bad behaviour as soon as you can, by acting firmly with any culprit. This will prevent any escalation. Do not tolerate threats of any kind; bring these to the attention of the Referee as soon as you can.

Part 5 "HOW TO ASSIST"                        Back to the top of  this page.

5a.  There are a lot of genuine, responsible good-humoured Club officials who are prepared to work with us as Referees and not against us. These will give you no trouble, and can sometimes add to the enjoyment of the game, so try to remember that it is not all doom and gloom - keep your sense of humour...........

5b. The Referee will require all the help they can get when dealing with any 'Bench' trouble. The Fourth Official and Assistant Referee need to be observant and absolutely certain who is involved and what has been said or done during periods of trouble from the ‘Bench’. Any mistakes in identifying the culprit, could affect both the Referee’s and Assistant Referees’ ability to control the rest of the game. The Referee should not ‘hide’ if the Fourth Official or an Assistant Referee colleague is having difficulty with any persons' within the ‘Bench’ area - or ground, including spectators. The Fourth Official or Assistant Referee cannot act on his own and must allow the Referee to personally deal with any misconduct as the Referee deems fit.

5c. The Referee and Fourth Official or Assistant Referee will need to consult each other away from prying ears before any action is taken. When action has to be taken on the say-so of the Fourth Official or Assistant Referee - it must be done as a team, with both officials approaching the ‘Bench’ together. The Referee is responsible for any necessary disciplinary action or warnings; the Fourth Official or Assistant Referee should remain quiet and act as an observer. Removing any awkward personnel from the ‘dug-out’ into the stand may be sufficient to stop further trouble.

5d. If there is absolutely nothing happening in a game, it is very easy for the Fourth Official or Assistant Referee to lose concentration on the field of play, and start ‘poking their nose’ into the ‘dug-out. DON’T go looking for trouble, because if you do, you’ll certainly find it on the ‘Bench’. The last thing a Referee wants is to get involved with the ‘Bench’. Don’t invite provocative conversation or respond to alleviate any boredom.

5e. The Fourth Official or Assistant Referee needs to develop a good rapport with the occupants of the ‘Technical Area’ without letting any conversation distract him from the main task of knowing exactly what is happening on the field of play.

5f. The Fourth Official or Assistant Referee must completely ignore any ‘wind-up’ comments about the Referee’s decisions on the field of play; the best response is to carry on as if nothing is being said - unless of course the comments are foul mouthed.

Questions and Answers:

Question 1: What is the actual rule for managers standing outside the zone in front of the technical area dugouts. I have seen managers stand outside this area, yet the 4th official seemed to not really do anything about it. One manager actually stood a few yards ON the pitch, but this was during a substitution.
So, is there actually any punishment for managers coming out of their area (I assume they can be sent from the touchline), and can they stand on the field of play, as long as the ball is dead?

Answer 1. The following words were taken out of the Laws in 2009/2010 - 'and they must return to their position immediately after giving these instruction'. The Law now only states that one team official at a time may convey tactical instructions to the players during the match - there is no longer any stipulation in the Law book that they must return to their position after doing so. All team officials must remain within the confines of the technical area, and where such an area is provided, they must behave in a responsible manner.
Tactical instructions may be given by different team officials during the match provided they do so one at a time and behave in a responsible manner. The occupants must stay within the technical area, except in special circumstances, for example, a trainer entering the field of play to administer treatment to a player (with the Referee’s permission).

Punishing minor infringements can actually escalate problems. Football is an emotive game and passions will run high. The Referee has the power to remove any occupant if the occupant’s behaviour warrants it. They must behave themselves in a responsible manner. The Fourth Official is responsible for informing the Referee when the occupants misbehave  – but a great deal of man-management is required on the Fourth Official’s part to pacify irate managers etc.

The number of persons permitted to occupy the technical area is defined by the competition rules.
But as with life, a modicum of common sense is applied when dealing with the technical area. This is a very difficult part of the Referee’s responsibility. It must be said, that when problems arise, they are created by the occupants. It is those occupants who have a responsibility to behave themselves, and when they misbehave, it is they who are a total disgrace. So let’s not blame the Referee for such behaviour, or for using his man-management skills for dealing with infringements. We are talking about grown men here, who would not dream of behaving like this in the street or elsewhere in public. If they did, they would be locked up!

Question 2: Am I right in thinking that the only person in the technical area who cannot be sent off is the trainer or physiotherapist? Where is the line drawn? Surely if fists are thrown by the physiotherapist etc. on the touchline, the game be abandoned? 

Answer 2: Although the provision of a trainer or physiotherapist (first aid person or doctor) is not part of the Laws, it very often is included in the Competition rules.
Depending on the content of the misbehaviour, a Referee may choose to have a quiet word, a more obvious word, or if necessary, dispense with the services of the trainer or physiotherapist and seek a replacement. If the Competition Rules stipulate that a trainer or physiotherapist MUST be present, then abandonment may be considered in extreme cases, if the players' safety is jeopardised.

The possibility of continuing with a game, if a trainer or physiotherapist has committed a serious misconduct, very much depends on a number of factors such as the level of the competition and its rules, the time of the incident, whether the 'so-called' trainer is in fact a qualified medical person, or just another club member who has been nominated to be the 'sponge-man', and therefore easily replaced. The type of misconduct committed is also a factor for consideration. For example, there is a big difference between allowing a trainer who has committed verbal misconduct to remain (and who has since calmed down), and one who has used his fist to attack another person. 

Deciding whether a trainer or physiotherapist can remain in the technical area is therefore not a black and white solution that can easily be described in a simple Law book paragraph or Competition rule. It is more complex than that, and the bottom line must always be the safety of the players; and this very much relies on the Referee using his discretion and Law 18 (Common Sense) to manage each situation. 

And finally, as stipulated in Law 5, the Referee is not held liable for a decision (in so far as this may be his responsibility) to allow or not allow any persons (including team or stadium officials, security officers, photographers or other media representative) to be present in the vicinity of the field of play. 

Question 3: Today, Everton's manager David Moyes was sent from the Technical Area, but to my surprise he was still able to communicate with his bench because he went just behind the Technical Area. Is this allowed? 

Answer 3: When a Manager is dismissed, he must leave Technical Area confines and the immediate play area (i.e. inside any barriers). The manager is then, no longer permitted to issue instructions directly to his players for the rest of the game. 

A dismissed manager remains an official of his Club, and therefore, if his behaviour (whilst outside of the technical area) continues to the detriment of the game and/or the safety of the players, the Referee should ask the home team officials to rectify the problem, and this could include removing the manager from the ground, In other words, the home team are responsible for taking the same action against the Manager, as they would do against a disruptive spectator. 

Whist a dismissed Manager is not allowed to convey instructions to his players directly, there are no stipulations that prevent him from contacting his Technical Area team, who in turn, can convey the Manager's instructions to the players. These instructions must be conveyed from the Technical Area in a responsible manner by the new person delivering them, else they may also be dismissed. 

There have been incidents, where a dismissed Manager or Coach, has taken up a position near the field boundary, and continues to shout (or provide) instructions directly to his players. This is not allowed. This is more likely to happen in lower levels of football, when no Technical Area confines or barriers are provided. The reason for removing Managers from the Technical Area is to maintain the responsible behaviour of its occupants for the reminder of the game. In fact, in the top levels of football, spare seats are retained specifically for any dismissed Managers for this very purpose.

Whilst spectators can (an do) offer their own instructions to players of their own team, a Club Official (whether he has been dismissed or not) is not allowed to wander outside of the Technical Area confines, bellowing instructions. Therefore, as a general principle, the Laws state that instructions (issued by team officials) must be delivered from within the Technical Area confines, by one person at a time. 

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This is the end of the Technical Area Page