The term 'MATCH OFFICIAL' is used to refer to a REFEREE, UMPIRE, or REF. A REFEREE is a person who is responsible for enforcing the rules of a game and making sure that the players abide by them. An UMPIRE is a person who is responsible for making decisions on the field during a game, such as calling balls and strikes in baseball. A REF is a shortened version of the word REFEREE and is often used interchangeably with the term REFEREE. All three terms are used to refer to the same job, which is to ensure that the rules of a game are followed and that the players are playing fairly.