New addition to the 3. Liga: Starting next season, a fourth official will be on the sidelines.

This change in the 3. Liga had already been foreshadowed, but on Tuesday it became official: From the coming season, a fourth official will be introduced. This was decided by the responsible bodies in consultation with the 20 third division clubs, as announced by the German Football Association (DFB).

Up to now, there have been three referees at all matches in the 3rd division. In future, they will be supported by another referee on the sidelines, as has been the practice in the first two leagues and in the DFB Cup for many years.

The decision strengthens the refereeing area, the DFB said. “The introduction of the fourth official means a further increase in professionalism in the 3rd division,” Tom Eilers, chairman of the 3rd division committee, was quoted as saying in a statement. “The step is logical, it takes into account both the development of the league and the high demands on the referees.”

The additional referee will relieve the refereeing team in communication with the coaches, among other things, explained former professional referee Florian Meyer, who now works as the sporting director of DFB Schiri GmbH in the 3rd division. “The aim is to create additional possibilities for preventive and calming accompaniment on the sidelines. The fourth referee or referees should aim for a de-escalating exchange during the ongoing match, so that the assistant referees can focus all their concentration on their original tasks.”

The additional linesman is also intended to prevent incidents like the one that recently occurred in the match between Wehen Wiesbaden and SV Meppen. A linesman injured himself during the game and had to be replaced by a spectator with the necessary licence. In future, the fourth official can step in in such cases.