In a game of football (soccer), the fifth official is a match official who assists the Fourth official in a variety of tasks, and who may be called upon to replace another match official if necessary, for example in the case of injury.

For the 2006 FIFA World Cup, if an assistant referee could not carry on his duties, the fifth official was to be his primary replacement, whereas the fourth official was the referee's primary replacement.

The fifth official was first introduced for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Football (soccer) laws | Football (soccer) referees | Football (soccer) terminology | Sports officiating

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