1. May a referee ask a neutral assistant referee to give an opinion as to whether or not the ball crossed the goal line between the posts?
   
   Yes.

    

2. A player is in an offside position and an assistant referee raises his flag. The referee does not see the signal and a defending player denies an opponent an obvious goal scoring opportunity. The referee stops play and only then sees the signal of the assistant referee. What action does the referee take?

    

   1. If he accepts the signal for offside from the assistant referee he does not send off the defender, since no obvious goal-scoring opportunity has occurred. Play is restarted with an indirect free kick for the defending team.

       

   2. If he does not accept that an offside offence has occurred the defending player is sent off for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity and play is restarted with a direct free kick for the attacking team.

    

3. A player is in an offside position and an assistant referee raises his flag. The referee does not see the signal and a defending player punches an opponent. The referee stops the play and only then sees the signal of the assistant referee. What action does the referee take?

    

   1. If he accepts the signal for offside from the assistant referee he sends off the defender for violent conduct and restarts play with an indirect free kick for the defending team.

       

   2. If he does not accept that an offside offence has occurred, the defending player is sent off for violent conduct and play is restarted with a direct free kick for the attacking team.

DRC: Gord Arrowsmith, 95 Wetherburn Drive, Whitby, ON   L1P 1N5     drcdurham@rogers.com