If the assistant referee in a soccer match raises the flag, at a 45 degree angle and points it horizontally along the touch line, what does that…

If the assistant referee in a soccer match raises the flag, at a 45 degree angle and points it horizontally along the touch line, what does that indicate?

  1. throw-in ✓
  2. penalty
  3. foul
  4. corner kick

Explanation

When the assistant referee raises the flag at 45 degrees pointing along the touchline, this signals a throw-in. The direction of the point indicates which team gets the throw.

A throw-in happens when the ball completely crosses the touchline. The team that did not touch the ball last gets to throw it back into play.

This specific flag signal is the standard way assistant referees communicate throw-in decisions. Other signals use different flag positions for different decisions.