In association football, what is the official term for the person who controls and manages the match on the field?

Introduction / Context:
Association football, commonly called soccer in some countries, is governed by a set of rules known as the Laws of the Game. These laws specify not only how the game is played, but also who is responsible for enforcing the rules during a match. The official who controls the match on the field, starts and stops play and decides on fouls and goals has a specific title that every sports fan should know.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The sport is association football, not cricket or another code.
• The question asks for the official term for the person who controls and manages the match on the field.
• Options include roles from different sports and other persons present at a match.

Concept / Approach:
Under the Laws of the Game, the match official in charge of a football game is called the referee. The referee has full authority to enforce the laws during the match, including starting and stopping play, awarding free kicks and penalties, and disciplining players with yellow and red cards. Assistant referees, sometimes informally called linesmen, help the referee with decisions such as offsides and throw ins but do not have primary control. Umpires are used in sports like cricket or tennis, not in football.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the sport mentioned as association football. Step 2: Recall that in football, the main on field official is known as the referee. Step 3: Note that assistant officials on the touchlines are called assistant referees or linesmen, but they support rather than control the match. Step 4: Review the options and find the one that correctly names the controlling match official as a referee. Step 5: Select a referee as the correct answer and rule out roles that belong to other sports or to spectators.

Verification / Alternative check:
Watching any professional football match or reading an official match report confirms that the person in charge on the field is always referred to as the referee. Commentators speak about the decisions of the referee and mention assistant referees or video assistants as supporting roles. The term umpire appears in cricket, tennis and some other sports but not in association football. This consistent usage across leagues and tournaments worldwide verifies that referee is the correct term.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
An umpire: This is the main official in sports like cricket and often in tennis, not in football.
A spectator: Spectators are members of the audience who watch the game and have no authority over the conduct of play.
A goalkeeper: The goalkeeper is a player whose job is to protect the goal, not to enforce the rules.
A linesman: More properly called an assistant referee, this official helps the referee with decisions but does not have overall control of the match.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners confuse the terminology used across sports, especially between football, cricket and hockey. They may select umpire simply because it sounds like a generic sports official. To avoid this, it helps to remember a simple mapping: football uses referee, cricket uses umpire, and tennis also uses umpires and line judges. Keeping these associations clear ensures that you can quickly answer many sports rules questions.

Final Answer:
In association football, the person who controls and manages the match on the field is called a referee.