Does the referee have the authority to declare a forfeit?

The referee's authority to declare a forfeit is contingent upon specific rules and circumstances established by the governing soccer body or competition guidelines. It is not an arbitrary decision made at the referee’s discretion; the rules dictate under what conditions a match can be forfeited. These conditions may include a team's failure to meet minimum player requirements, a violation of match regulations, or other substantial infractions.

In certain circumstances, if a team does not field the required number of players at the scheduled start time, or if they fail to adhere to the laws of the game, the referee can consider the match forfeit. However, this must align with the specific rules of the league or tournament overseeing the game. Thus, the referee's decision must be grounded in these established rules rather than personal judgment or tendency, making the accurate understanding of these guidelines crucial for proper game management.