The last couple of weeks we have had a few instances where the assigned match referee has not turned up.
I have had a number of questions around this.

Here are some of the instructions from the FFV.

No Official Referee
No official FFV referee has arrived at our game, what now?
- The next most senior Match Official will take charge of the fixture.
- If no registered Match Official is present to act as the ‘Replacement’ 10 minutes prior to the fixture, both clubs should agree on a replacement.
- If, by the scheduled kick off time, no agreement on a ‘Replacement’ referee can be reached, the Home Club must appoint a person to act as Match Official for the fixture.
- A replacement can be a parent or club official that knows the relevant Rules and Laws of the Game, for further information go to pg 20-21 for Club Referee Guide.
- If any match does not kick off within 15 minutes of the scheduled kick off time due to the absence of a Match Official, the home team will forfeit the fixture.
- All Clubs must fulfil all fixtures, regardless of whether a Match Official is present to take charge. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.

So it is imperative that at home games we have someone volunteering as a referee and we start the game within 15 minutes of the scheduled kickoff time otherwise we risk forfeiting the game!