Football Referee Knowledge Quiz - 20 Questions About Football Rules

Which player(s) can ask the referee for the required distance at a free kick?

• The player awarded the free kick.
• Any player of the team that committed the offence.
• Any member of the team awarded the free kick.
• Any player from the team awarded the free kick or any defenders so they know how far their wall should be from the ball.

When a player takes a goal kick, the ball strikes the referee inside the penalty area and continues into play. What decision should the referee make?

• The referee stops play and restarts with a dropped ball.
• The referee stops play and awards an indirect free kick to the opponents.
• The referee stops play and orders the goal kick retaken.
• The referee allows play to continue.

Is this statement correct? If a player strikes the ball with an object when the ball is in play, play is restarted with a dropped ball or indirect free kick.

• Yes
• Only with a dropped ball.
• Only with an indirect free kick.
• No

Who has the discretion to allow added time?

• The referee.
• The assistant referee.
• The fourth official.
• The referee together with his assistant referees.

Which of the following statements is required for a correct throw-in?

• Facing the field of play with the feet on the touch line.
• Having part of one foot on the touch line or outside of it.
• Throwing the ball from behind and over the head.
• All of the answers are correct.

At an obvious goalscoring opportunity, a defender tries to prevent the goal by handling the ball but he does not prevent the goal. What decision does the referee make?

• Award a goal and caution the defender for unsporting behaviour.
• Award a goal and send off the player.
• Award a goal and take no disciplinary action.
• Award a penalty kick and send off the player.

Which of the following is incorrect? Cooperation provided by the assistant referee includes...

• indicating when foul play has occurred near to him during a match.
• informing the referee that a player who was previously bleeding is now ready to return.
• checking a player who has left the field of play to adjust his kit and is standing next to him is ready to return.
• giving permission for medical staff to enter the field of play to check on injured players.

The referee is standing in defenders penalty area. The ball is in possession of an attacker just outside the box. A player of the defending team hits the referee in the face. He was show a red card. How will play be restarted? With a

• Indirect free kick
• Penalty kick
• Dropped ball
• Kick-off

Can a player be sent off for committing an act of dangerous play?

• No, this is not possible.
• No, unless the action involves a risk of injury.
• Yes
• Only if there is physical contact.

Who can change the length of the half-time interval?

• The players of both teams, by mutual agreement.
• The officials of both teams, by mutual agreement and as long as there is a valid reason.
• Only the referee.
• The captains of both teams with prior notice to the referee.

How wide are the goalposts?

• 5 ins (12 cm) maximum.
• 5 ins (12 cm) minimum.
• The same width as the goal lines.
• None of the answers is correct.

In the event of any infringement of Law 4, the referee should...

• stop play and ask the player to correct his equipment.
• stop play and caution the player, restarting the match with a dropped ball.
• instruct the player to leave the field of play to correct his equipment.
• stop play and instruct the player to leave the field of play to correct his equipment.

It is the opinion of the International FA Board that a match should not continue if there are fewer than...

• five players remaining in a team.
• six players remaining in a team.
• seven players remaining in a team.
• eight players remaining in a team.

Who controls the match?

• The referee.
• The assistant referees.
• The fourth official.
• The referee and the fourth official.

A player in an offside position receives the ball directly from a goal kick by his own goalkeeper and scores a goal. What decision should the referee make?

• The referee disallows the goal and awards an indirect free kick for interfering with play.
• The referee disallows the goal, cautions the player and awards an indirect free kick for interfering with play.
• The referee awards a goal.
• None of the answers is completely correct.

When a penalty kick is being taken, the goalkeeper moves forward before the ball is kicked and saves it in front of the goal line. What decision should the referee make?

• The penalty kick is retaken.
• Play continues.
• The goalkeeper is cautioned and the penalty kick is retaken.
• The referee awards an indirect free kick to the opposing team.

A player throws the ball to his own goalie. The ball goes in to the goal without being touched. How does the referee need to restart the game?

• Goal kick
• Corner kick
• Kick-off
• Throw-in

A match requires a winner but finishes in a draw.

• Extra time is played.
• Kicks from the penalty mark are taken.
• The match proceeds according to the rules of the competition.
• The match proceeds with the "golden goal".

A player takes a throw-in correctly. The ball does not enter the field of play but remains outside the touch line.

• The referee awards a new throw-in to the opposing team.
• A different player from the same team retakes the throw-in.
• The referee orders the throw-in to be retaken by the same team.
• The referee cautions the player for delaying the restart of play. The throw-in is retaken by the same team.

Is it an offence if a goalkeeper picks up the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately passed to him by a team-mate using his leg(specifically only using the shin)?

• Yes, always.
• No.
• Yes, but only if he picks it up with his hands.
• Yes. The offence is committed by the player who deliberately kicked the ball. He is cautioned for unsporting behaviour.