The governing body appoints the match officials for every FA Cup tie, and their powers and duties come from the Laws of the Game. If one cannot attend, qualifying rounds use their own replacement rules, while in the main competition the fourth official steps in.
Where the officials' authority comes from
The referee, assistant referees and fourth official work under the powers and duties set out in the Laws of the Game. That authority is the same at every tie, because it comes from those Laws.
Each tie has its officials appointed by the governing body. Replays are included in that system, and replays in the earliest three qualifying stages carry an extra rule for when a change of referee from the original tie is necessary.
Replays in the earliest qualifying rounds
The three stages concerned are the Extra Preliminary Round, the Preliminary Round and the First Round Qualifying.
This rule is limited to those three qualifying stages and to replays. Where a change of referee from the original tie is necessary, the governing body must appoint a different referee.
Acceptance and the home club's notice
A match official must acknowledge acceptance of an appointment. That is a required step once the appointment is made.
The home club has its own duty before the tie. No later than five days before the match, it must tell the appointed officials the precise details of the match. Those details must include the location of its ground, the kick-off time and the colours both clubs will wear, together with anything else the officials need. The officials must in turn acknowledge receipt of what they are sent.
What happens when an official cannot be there
These are the stage-by-stage absence rules.
| Stage | Who is missing | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifying rounds | An official other than the referee | The remaining officials complete the tie, unless both clubs agree on a replacement the referee accepts |
| Qualifying rounds | The referee | The most senior assistant referee takes the referee's place |
| Main competition | Any appointed official | The fourth official steps in |
In the qualifying rounds (the Qualifying Competition), the rule depends on who is absent. If the missing person is not the referee, the tie continues under the control of the remaining officials unless both clubs agree on a substitute who is acceptable to the referee.
If the referee is the one who cannot attend or is incapacitated in the qualifying rounds, the most senior assistant referee appointed to that tie must take over. The vacancy left by that assistant is then dealt with under the separate qualifying-round rule for an absent official other than the referee.
In the main competition (the Competition Proper), the fourth official is the appointed stand-in if any appointed official cannot attend or is incapacitated.
FAQ
What happens if the referee cannot make an FA Cup tie?
The answer changes by stage. In the qualifying rounds, the most senior assistant referee takes the referee's place; in the main competition, the fourth official is the appointed replacement when an appointed official cannot attend or is incapacitated.
What must the home club tell the match officials before the tie?
The home club must give the appointed officials the precise details of the tie, and those details must include the location of its ground, the kick-off time and the colours both clubs will wear, together with any other necessary details. That notice has to be given no later than five days before the tie.
Is there an observer at FA Cup matches?
An observer may be appointed to any tie, and the home club must reserve two seats for the observer in the directors' box, or a similar area reserved for directors and club officials. The observer tells the home club that they are attending.
Does an assistant referee take over if the referee is injured in qualifying?
Yes. In the qualifying rounds, the most senior assistant referee appointed to the tie must move into the referee's role if the referee cannot attend or is incapacitated.