Can fourth officials make decisions? This is what the FA laws say. Apparently, on-field officials can assist the referee, but does that include the 4th official? I have never seen a fourth official make a match decision before.

From http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules/laws/football-11-11/law-6---the-other-match-officials


With the exception of the reserve assistant referee, the 'on-field' match officials assist the referee with offences when they have a clearer view than the referee and they must submit a report to the appropriate authorities on any serious misconduct or other incident that occurred out of the view of the referee and the other match officials. They must advise the referee and other match officials of any report being made.

The 'on-field' match officials assist the referee with inspecting the field of play, the balls and players’ equipment (including if problems have been resolved) and maintaining records of time, goals, misconduct etc.

Change decision. But can't a referee change his decision? Yes, referees can. ... The LATG say: “The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match

Quoted from lukeo

Change decision. But can't a referee change his decision? Yes, referees can. ... The LATG say: “The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee or the fourth official, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match

And this post should be the end of the discussion on this now.

Yeah but Gary Neville or VAR or something

Maybe the fourth official decided it was time there was at least one correct decision last night, because the actual ref didn't get much right up to that point, should be back in the conference for Saturday.

Poss more a case of us not knowing the new rule?

Think it was more their manager getting in the 4th officials ear...seemed to have really p!ssed Jolley off..and I can't blame him either...

No problem with the forth official being involved but if that is the case he needs to be away from the managers,  teams with aggressive loud mouthed managers are always going to get an advantage