Law 01 – The Field of Play
• Artificial and natural surfaces may not be combined on the field
• Competitions may determine field size for their competitions (within Law)
• All commercial advertising on the ground must be at least 1m (1yd) from boundary lines
• Logos/emblems of FAs, competitions etc... allowed on corner flags (no advertising)
Law 02 – The Ball
None
Law 03 – The Players (new title)
• A match may not start/continue if a team has fewer than 7 players
• Substitutes may take a restart but must first step onto the field
• Clarifies situation when a player is sent off before/after kick-off
• Direct FK (or penalty) if a substitute/team official interferes with play
• If something/someone (other than a player) touches a ball as it goes into the goal the referee can award the goal if the touch had no impact on the defenders
• If a goal is scored with an extra person on the field and referee has restarted play the goal stands and match continues
Law 04 – The Players’ Equipment
• Any tape or other material on/covering socks must be same colour as the sock
• Player losing footwear/shinguard accidentally can play on until next stoppage
• Undershorts must be colour of shorts or hem; team must all wear same colour
• Electronic communication with substitutes is forbidden
• Player can return during play after changing/correcting equipment, once equipment has been checked (by referee, fourth official or AR) and referee signals
Law 05 – The Referee
• Decision can not be changed if play restarted or referee has left the field (HT+FT)
• If several offences occur at the same time the most serious is punished
• Referee can send a player off from pre-match pitch inspection onwards
• Referee can only use RC + YC after entering the field at start of the match
• Player injured by RC/YC foul can be quickly assessed/ treated and stay on field
• The equipment a referee can or may be allowed to use
• Diagrams of referee signals included (from Guidelines section)
Law 06 – The Other Match Officials (new title)
• More details about the duties of the assistants, AARs, fourth official
• Diagrams of assistant referee signals included (from Guidelines section)
Law 07 – The Duration of the Match
• More reasons for additional time (e.g. medical drinks breaks)
Law 08 – The Start and Restart of Play
• All restarts included (previously only kick-off and dropped ball)
• Ball must clearly move to be in play for all kicked restarts
• Ball can be kicked in any direction at kick-off (previously had to go forward)
• Referee can not ‘manufacture’ outcome of a dropped ball
Law 09 – The Ball in and out of Play
• If a ball rebounds off a match official it is in play unless it has wholly passed over a boundary line
Law 10 – Determining the Outcome of a Match (new title)
Kicks from the penalty mark:
• Referee will toss a coin to choose the goal (unless weather, safety, etc.)
• Player temporarily off the field (e.g. injured) at final whistle can take part
• Both teams must have same number of players before and during the kicks
• Clear statement of when a kick is over
• Kicks not delayed if player leaves the field; if not back in time kick is forfeited
Law 11 – Offside
• Halfway line ‘neutral’ for offside; player must be in opponents’ half
• Players’ arms not considered when judging offside position (including goalkeeper)
• Offside FK always taken where offence occurs (even in own half)
• Defender off the field only ‘active’ until defending team clear ball or play stops
• As above for attacker returning; before that re-entry point is the offside position
Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct
• Foul with contact is a direct FK
• Advantage for a RC – indirect FK if offender then gets involved in play
• Change of wording for handball so that not every handball is a YC
• Some DOGSO offences in the penalty area are punished with a YC
• Attempted violent conduct is a RC, even if no contact
• Striking on head/face when not challenging an opponent is a RC (unless negligible)
• Offence against substitutes, team officials, match officials etc. is now a direct FK
• Foul off the field penalised with a direct FK on boundary line (penalty in own penalty area)
Law 13 – Free Kicks
• Difference between ‘stopping’ a FK and ‘intercepting’ the ball after FK taken
Law 14 –The Penalty Kick
• Indirect FK + YC if wrong player deliberately takes the penalty
• Indirect FK if ball kicked backwards
• If ‘illegal’ feinting occurs it is always an indirect FK (and YC)
• Goalkeeper YC if infringes and PK is retaken
Law 15 – The Throw-in
• New wording makes it clear that ball must be thrown with both hands
Law 16 – The Goal Kick
• If GK kicked into own goal it is a corner kick to opponents
• An opponent in the penalty area when the goal kick is taken can not play the ball first
Law 17 – The Corner Kick
• If CK kicked into own goal it is a corner kick to opponents
