The ref can actually do whatever the f*** he/she wants. They can overturn decisions although this is rare in my experience because refs are always right, and if they overturned a decision it would be wrong - confused?
Refs can also ignore existing rules and even invent their own new rules; in New Zealand these new rules often incorporate elements of the oval ball game, which keeps us mere footballers on our toes because rugby has so many rules that are always changing. At the lower levels refs can frequently adhere to the "one rule for one, and another rule for the other" approach - depending on which team has pissed them off most. Beware of that one! The refs I like best are the ones that are generous with the 'advantage rule', except in those situations where your centre forward has rounded the keeper and is gazing adoringly at an empty net. In those situations refs seem to have an involuntary whistle-blowing response. I also like the refs who have telescopic vision. They ignore linesmen/women flagging for offside even when they are 90 yards away from the action. Such creatures are truly lofty biological specimens-they are like the bionic man I guess except they usually weigh 150kg.
And then there are the refs that are actually just plain old footballers.
I remember reading about a ref (in Serie B or somewhere) that rose to a corner and headed it in then blew the whistle for the end of the game. He felt the team that was losing 1-0 (until his intervention) didn't deserve to be...GET IN!
Refs can also ignore existing rules and even invent their own new rules; in New Zealand these new rules often incorporate elements of the oval ball game, which keeps us mere footballers on our toes because rugby has so many rules that are always changing. At the lower levels refs can frequently adhere to the "one rule for one, and another rule for the other" approach - depending on which team has pissed them off most. Beware of that one! The refs I like best are the ones that are generous with the 'advantage rule', except in those situations where your centre forward has rounded the keeper and is gazing adoringly at an empty net. In those situations refs seem to have an involuntary whistle-blowing response. I also like the refs who have telescopic vision. They ignore linesmen/women flagging for offside even when they are 90 yards away from the action. Such creatures are truly lofty biological specimens-they are like the bionic man I guess except they usually weigh 150kg.
And then there are the refs that are actually just plain old footballers.
I remember reading about a ref (in Serie B or somewhere) that rose to a corner and headed it in then blew the whistle for the end of the game. He felt the team that was losing 1-0 (until his intervention) didn't deserve to be...GET IN!
So I take it you don't tend to hug the refs after your games?
"Phoenix till they lose"