Arbitro
In short
An arbitro is the official referee in charge of enforcing the rules during a sporting event, most commonly in football.
In plain words
This person makes sure everyone plays fairly and follows the laws of the game. They can stop play, award penalties, or show yellow and red cards to players who break rules.
A simple example
During a football match, the arbitro blows a whistle to award a penalty kick after a defender trips an attacker in the box.
Why it matters
Without a neutral official, matches could become chaotic or violent. They ensure that the outcome of a game is decided by skill rather than rule-breaking.
Easy to mix up
It is often confused with an umpire, which is the term used for officials in sports like cricket or tennis.