<P> In association football, the referee is the person responsible for enforcing the Laws of the Game during the course of a match . He or she is the final decision - making authority on all facts connected with play, and is the only official on the pitch with the authority to start and stop play and impose disciplinary action against players during a match . At most levels of play the referee is assisted by two assistant referees (formerly known as linesmen), who are empowered to advise the referee in certain situations such as the ball leaving play or infringements of the Laws of the Game occurring out of the view of the referee; however, the assistant referees' decisions are not binding and the referee has authority to overrule an assistant referee . At higher levels of play the referee may also be assisted by a fourth official who supervises the teams' technical areas and assists the referee with administrative tasks . </P> <P> Referees' remuneration for their services varies between leagues . Many are wholly amateur, some may be paid a small fee or reimbursed for expenses, and, in some countries, a limited number of referees--mainly those who officiate in their country's top league--are employed full - time by their national associations and receive a retainer at the start of every season plus match fees . </P>

What are the responsibilities of a referee in football