UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION

Ò



ADVICE TO REFEREES

ON THE LAWS OF THE GAME

UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION

Hank Steinbrecher

Executive Director/Secretary General

Julie Ilacqua

Chair, National Referee Committee

ADVICE TO REFEREES

ON THE LAWS OF THE GAME

Acknowledgments

The United States Soccer Federation's National Referee Development Program is very pleased to be able to acknowledge the work of the instructors at all levels who contributed to this Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game.

The principal authors were Jim Allen, who doubled as editor, and Dan Heldman. Substantial contributions came from Bob Wertz, Gil Weber, Pat Smith, and Ulrich Strom (who prepared the teaching syllabus that accompanies the Advice). Other contributors include Ken Ridden (FA) and George Cumming (Scottish FA), as well as Jim Gordon, Mike Goblet, Freddy Usher, Dave McKee, and Holly Hollingsworth. Special thanks go to Wally Beaumont for his work in the final proofing for accuracy of content, and to Josef Zeevi, who prepared the Advice for publication in both the hardcopy and electronic versions.


Alfred Kleinaitis
Manager of Referee Development and Education
1998

Advice to Referees

In early 1997, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) issued a general rewrite of the Laws of the Game which took effect worldwide on July 1, 1997. This new text was the first complete revision of the Laws since the modern version was first issued about sixty years ago.

Over that period, the seventeen Laws of the Game were augmented by IFAB decisions, interpretations, guidelines, instructions, and items of advice from both the IFAB and the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Further, the United States Soccer Federation (USSF) has issued additional instructions and guidance to clarify the IFAB's decisions and indicate how they were to be applied in the USA.

This book of Advice to Referees is specifically intended to give USSF referees, assistant referees, and fourth officials a reliable compilation of those international and national guidelines remaining in force, as modified or updated. It is not a replacement for the Laws of the Game, nor is it a "how to" book on refereeing. It is one of a number of sources of information:

While every effort will be made to keep this Advice up to date through new editions, changes in the Law may result in an item becoming inaccurate or outdated. When this occurs, USSF will specify the relevant section of the Advice and will state clearly the necessary changes, so that referees can mark their copy appropriately until a new edition can be published.

Advice to Referees presents official USSF interpretations of the Laws of the Game. Affiliated leagues, associations, competitions, and officials must implement them to the fullest extent possible. Participants in affiliated matches must not impose personal, unsupported, or unofficial interpretations of any provisions of the Laws of the Game. If a point is not made in this Advice, look first to the relevant Law or Laws of the Game for the answer.

References to the male gender in this Advice in respect of referees, assistant referees, fourth officials, players, substitutes, or bench personnel are for simplification only and apply to both males and females.

Entries or portions of entries are italicized if they discuss matters which are less well known or less commonly understood.

Law 1 - The Field of Play

1.1 DIMENSIONS

  • The length of the field must always exceed the width. The dimensions of the field of play may vary to enable players of different levels of skill and physical attributes to play the game. The size of the field of play and the width between the goal posts and height of the crossbar from the ground may be modified for matches between players of under 16 years of age, for women, and for players over 35, provided USSF approves the modifications.
    •

    1.2 SAFETY

  • Referees should arrive in plenty of time to inspect the field, goals, flags, and markings for accuracy and safety. No part of the field surface or the goals and flagposts may be dangerous to the players. If the field conditions are dangerous or unsuitable for play, the referee must refuse to officiate the game and, unless there is a possibility that the problem can be corrected, should leave immediately after announcing his decision to both sides. Unresolved problems with the field that do not involve safety should be reported to the competition authority, even if the game is played.
    •

    1.3 GOALS

  • The goals must be securely anchored to the ground.
    •

    1.4 FLAGPOSTS

  • The compulsory corner flagposts and the optional halfway flagposts should be no less than 5 feet high; anything shorter is dangerous to the players. If used, the optional halfway flagposts must be at least 1m/1 yard outside the touch line.
    •

    1.5 FIELD MARKINGS

  • The markings of the field should not be dangerous, must not protrude above the surface or be placed in ruts or hollows, and should be easily visible. The goal line should be the same width as the depth of the goal posts and the crossbar.

    The lines belong to the areas of which they are the boundaries. The area beyond the goal line and crossbar and inside the goal net (if one is provided) is not part of the field of play.

    The optional line drawn outside the field of play, 10 yards from the corner arc and at right angles to the goal line, may not touch the goal line. The line allows the officials to judge that defenders keep the proper distance at the taking of a corner kick.

    If a photographer's line is provided, it must be marked behind the goal lines in accordance with the rules of the competition.

    If the lines are not marked properly, the referee should try to have proper markings put down by the home team before starting the game, time permitting.

    • 1.6 NO PLAYER MODIFICATIONS TO THE FIELD

  • Goalkeepers or other players may not make unauthorized marks on the field of play. The player who makes such marks or alterations on the field to gain an unfair advantage may be cautioned for unsporting behavior. Players may return bent or leaning corner flags to the upright position, but they may not bend or lean them away from the upright position to take a corner kick, nor may the corner flag be removed for any reason.

    • Law 2 - The Ball

    2.1 BALL REQUIREMENTS AND BALL PERSONS

  • Law 2 does not require balls to be of a particular color or material. The referee may replace the original ball with one of a different color if this makes the ball more visible. The game ball should be supplied by the home team, with several other suitable balls in reserve. At the higher levels of the game, leagues and competitions are urged to provide up to six balls around the field of play (together with persons whose responsibility it is to hand another ball to the players). When more than one game ball is provided for a match, the referee must inspect all balls to be used to ensure they meet the requirements of Law 2. If ball persons are available, the referee or fourth official should meet with them before the commencement of the match to brief them on their duties. Ball persons must serve both teams equally. Referees, assistant referees, and fourth officials must also ensure that extra balls do not enter the field.
    •

    Law 3 - The Number of Players

    3.1 ROSTERS AND DESIGNATIONS OF SUBSTITUTES

  • Know the number of substitutes specified by the competition. The Law now allows a team to list up to 18 players on its game roster. All players' and nominated substitutes' names must be provided to the referee before the start of the match. The practice of obtaining rosters at halftime, after the game, or not at all, is not permissible. If the rules of the competition do not require rosters or team lists, the referee must obtain verbal agreement from both sides before the kickoff regarding the number of substitutions. If there is nothing in writing, then apply the terms of Law 3 to the letter.
    •

    3.2 LATE-ENTERING PLAYER

  • If a player whose name was given to the referee prior to the match is not able to enter or re-enter the field in time for play to begin, due to late arrival or unreadiness of equipment or uniform, he may subsequently enter the field at a stoppage. The player may enter the field from any point on the boundary line, but only after the referee has inspected his equipment.
    •

    3.3 MORE THAN THE ALLOWED NUMBER OF PLAYERS

  • If, while the game is in progress, the referee finds that a team has more than the allowed number of players, he must stop play, and then remove and caution the extra player from that team. The person to be removed and cautioned would be whoever was not listed on the team roster as a "starter" or who had not already been formally substituted for a "starter"; in other words, probably a named substitute. The restart is a dropped ball at the place where the ball was when play was stopped (subject to the special circumstances described in Law 8). In all competitions, especially those that allow multiple substitutions, the officials must be extremely vigilant in counting the number of players who leave and substitutes who enter to prevent problems of this nature.

    If a goal is scored by the team that had more than the allowed number of players and the referee discovers this before play is restarted, the goal is not valid and the restart is a goal kick. If the referee does not discover the extra player until after the kick-off, the goal remains valid and may not be taken away. The referee must report the incident to the proper authority.

    •

    3.4 SUBSTITUTION PROCEDURE

  • After the player being replaced has left the field, the referee must signal his permission for the substitute to enter. A substitution is not complete and the substitute may not take part in the game until he has entered the field of play. Referees who deviate from the formal process by which a substitute becomes a player -- whether in the interest of saving time or because the steps are thought to be too complex and cumbersome -- do so at their own peril and will eventually discover that the Laws of the Game specify the procedure for very good reasons. Deviations may lead to situations that the referee cannot settle within the Law. For example, a substitute might commit a violent act after being allowed to enter the field before the player whom he is replacing has left. Then the referee must decide whether the act was a foul or a misconduct and, if the guilty party is dismissed, whether the team plays short.
    •

    3.5 PREVENTING DELAY DURING SUBSTITUTION

  • Referees should prevent unnecessary delays due to the substitution process. One source of delay is a request for a substitution that occurs just as a player starts to put the ball back into play. This often (incorrectly) results in the restart being called back and retaken. Another common source of delay is a substitute player who is not prepared to take the field when the request to substitute is made. In each case, the referee should order play to be restarted despite the request and inform the coach that the substitution can be made at the next opportunity.
    •

    3.6 ALLOWING SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDING TIME

  • With the above exception, referees may not ignore or deny permission for a legal substitution that is properly requested. Although Law 3 requires that the referee be "informed before any proposed substitution is made," this does not mean that the referee can deny permission for any reason other than to ensure that the substitution conforms to the Law. Even if it seems that the purpose is to waste time, the referee cannot deny the request, but should exercise the power granted in Law 7 to add time lost through "any other cause." (Rules of those competitions that permit multiple substitutions and re-entries can sometimes lead to confusion. Study the advice under 8.3 regarding the start of the second half.)
    •

    3.7 TOO MANY SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

  • If the referee allows more than the specified or agreed-upon number of substitutions and discovers this only after play has been restarted, this is a violation of Law 3. It is also a serious error by the referee. The referee must remove the illegal substitute at the earliest opportunity and replace him with the former player, restarting as appropriate to the reason the ball was out of play. The referee must file a complete report.
    •

    3.8 LEAVING THE FIELD WITHOUT PERMISSION

  • The referee may caution a player who leaves the field without waiting for the permission of the referee when his substitution is requested.
    •

    3.9 LEAVING THE FIELD IN THE COURSE OF PLAY

  • If a player accidentally passes over one of the boundary lines of the field of play or if a player in possession of or contesting for the ball passes over the touch line or the goal line without the ball to beat an opponent, he is not considered to have left the field of play without the permission of the referee. This player does not need the referee's permission to return to the field.

    An opponent may exploit a situation in which the goalkeeper has temporarily left the field in the course of play by quickly and correctly taking a throw-in or a corner kick. Even though the goalkeeper may still be returning to the field, a goal scored under these circumstances is valid. No offense has been committed.

    •

    3.10 ILLEGALLY ENTERING THE GAME

  • If a person who is not a nominated substitute enters the game as a substitute, he will be considered "illegal" and must be removed from the game. Such a person cannot be cautioned, as he is neither a player nor a substitute. If the referee stopped the game to deal with this person, the restart would be a dropped ball at the place where the ball was, subject to the special circumstances imposed in Law 8. The referee must submit a full report.
    •

    3.11 REPLACED PLAYER ILLEGALLY RETURNING TO PLAY

  • The referee must stop play and caution and remove from the game a player who has been replaced and subsequently returns to the field as a substitute. The caution is given for unsporting behavior, as a substituted player is not permitted to take any further active part in the match.

    • 3.12 DEPARTING PLAYER MUST NOT INTERFERE WITH PLAY

  • If a player has received permission to leave the field, he must do so. If he interrupts his exit to play the ball as play continues, the player should be cautioned for unsporting behavior. The game must be restarted with an indirect free kick taken by a player of the opposing team, from the place where the infringement occurred (subject to the special circumstances outlined in Law 8).
    •

    3.13 APPLYING DISCIPLINE TO SUBSTITUTES

  • The referee's authority extends to all substitutes, whether called upon to play or not. While it is not possible for a substitute to commit or to be penalized for a foul, substitutes can be shown the appropriate card and cautioned or sent off for misconduct. (See Law 5 for dealing with coaches and other team personnel.)
    •

    3.14 POSTGAME OR PREGAME DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES

  • Postgame: Any misconduct committed by players or substitutes after the match has been completed must be described in the game report and reported to the competition authority. Since such misconduct cannot result in a formal caution or send-off, no card may be displayed.

    Pregame: Misconduct committed by a player or substitute prior to the start of the match is subject to a formal caution or a send-off, as appropriate. The referee should not display any yellow or red card at this time. The caution is still recorded, however, and is counted for purposes of sending a player from the field for receiving a second caution during the match. To prevent misunderstandings, the referee should inform officials of both teams before the first period of play begins of any cautions or send-offs occurring prior to the start of the match.

    •

    3.15 RESTARTING PLAY FOR INFRINGEMENTS OF LAW 3

  • If the game is stopped to deal with infringements of Law 3 (except for interference by persons who are not players), play is restarted with an indirect free kick taken by a player of the opposing team from the place where the ball was when play was stopped (subject to the special circumstances of Law 8).
    •

    3.16 NUMBER OF PLAYERS DURING KICKS FROM THE PENALTY MARK

  • Only the players who were on the field at the end of the game (or off the field for treatment of injury or repair of equipment) may participate in kicks from the penalty mark. All players who are not injured must take a kick before anyone on the same team takes a second kick. If a player is dismissed during the taking of the kicks, the contest continues without him. Although Law 3 requires that a match may not be started with fewer than seven players on each side, this does not apply to the taking of kicks from the penalty mark. Unless the rules of competition prescribe otherwise, if one of the teams is able to field only five or six players for the kicks, the taking of kicks may begin, and it may continue as long as there is one player left.
    •

    Law 4 - The Players' Equipment

    4.1 WEARING UNIFORMS

  • It is implicit in the Law that each side wear a distinctively colored jersey, that shorts and socks be uniform for each team, and that the uniforms be distinguishable from the uniforms worn by the other team. The referee shall ensure that each player wears his uniform and equipment properly. Players' jerseys must remain tucked inside their shorts, socks must remain pulled up, and each player must wear shinguards under the socks. Slide pants or similar undergarments must be the same main color as the shorts.
    •

    4.2 SAFETY

  • The referee must inspect the players and their equipment to ensure that there is nothing dangerous to any player. Players may not wear anything that the referee considers dangerous to the player or to their teammates or opponents.
    •

    4.3 JEWELRY

  • All items of jewelry are normally considered dangerous; however, referees should consider carefully any item of clothing or jewelry that is clearly religious or medical in nature and permit it to be worn if it is not dangerous and not likely to provide the player with an unfair advantage. At the most skilled, professional level of the game, the degree of danger presented by jewelry is left to the discretion of the referee.
    •

    4.4 GOALKEEPER UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

  • Goalkeepers traditionally wear items of clothing besides those prescribed under Law 4. They must wear a jersey color distinct from the players of both teams. Goalkeepers also may wear soft hats or caps, gloves, pants with special hip or thigh pads, jerseys with pads along the elbows and arms, and separate pads for knees or elbows, as long as these items of clothing do not present a danger to any players, are of a color distinct from the uniforms of players of either team and are, in the opinion of the referee, clearly related to the goalkeeper's function. The referee should prevent any player other than the goalkeeper from wearing an item of clothing or equipment that is permitted to the goalkeeper under these criteria.

    If the two goalkeepers' shirts are the same color and neither has another shirt to change into, the referee shall allow the match to proceed.

    • 4.5 FOOTWEAR

  • Shoes are a required item of player equipment. If a player, due to a collision with an opponent or other cause, loses a shoe and immediately scores a goal, the goal would be valid. The player lost his shoe by accident and did not intentionally play without the shoe. It is within the referee's discretion to allow such a player to continue playing for a short while until he can recover his shoe and put it back on.
    •

    4.6 INCORRECT UNIFORM OR EQUIPMENT

  • Sending a player off the field to repair incorrect uniform or equipment does not require a report by the referee. In addition, the inspection of a player after the correction of a problem with uniform or equipment may not be delegated to another official unless competition rules expressly permit it.
    •

    Law 5 - The Referee

    5.1 REFEREE UNIFORM

  • Referees may wear only the black primary jersey or the fuchsia alternate/summer jersey. No other colors will be worn except by authority of the USSF. ("Summer" is defined by the respective state referee committee. "Summer" in the north may be a shorter period than "summer" in the south. A referee may also wear the summer uniform on any warm sunny day.) If the uniform colors worn by a goalkeeper and the referee or by a team (or both teams) and the referee are similar enough to invite confusion, the referee must attempt to have the goalkeeper or the team(s) change to different colors. If there is no way to resolve the color similarity, then the referee (and the assistant referees) must wear the colors that conflict least with the players. Referees and assistant referees must wear the same color jerseys, and all must wear the same length sleeves. The referee uniform does not include a hat, cap, or other head covering, with the exception of religious head covering. Referees must wear the badge of the current registration year.
    •

    5.2 REFEREE'S AUTHORITY

  • The referee's authority begins when he arrives at the area of the field of play and continues until he has left the area of the field after the game has been completed. The referee's authority extends to time when the ball is not in play, to temporary suspensions, to the half-time break, and to additional periods of play or kicks from the penalty mark required by the rules of the competition.
    •

    5.3 PREGAME

  • Before the game, the referee must discuss with his assistant referees and fourth official (if one has been assigned) the rules of the competition and the proper procedures and mechanics to be followed by each official (as prescribed in the USSF Guide to Procedures).
    •

    5.4 REFEREE SIGNALS

  • Referee signals should be restricted to those authorized by IFAB/FIFA (play on - advantage, penalty kick, indirect free kick, direct free kick, goal kick, corner kick, and caution or send off when showing the card), unless there is a clear need to communicate other information to the players or to the assistant referees and fourth official. Other signals or methods of communication intended to supplement those described in the USSF Guide to Procedures are permitted only if they do not conflict with established procedures and only if they do not intrude on the game, are not distracting, are limited in number and purpose, and are carefully described by the referee before the match. Such signals should be kept to an absolute minimum, and should not be demonstrative or draw undue attention to the referee.

    When starting or restarting the game, the referee may signal to both teams by using his whistle, a hand signal, a word or two, or a simple nod or other acknowledgment. Such a signal should be clearly understood by both teams.

    •

    5.5 TRIFLING INFRACTIONS

  • "The Laws of the Game are intended to provide that games should be played with as little interference as possible, and in this view it is the duty of referees to penalize only deliberate breaches of the Law. Constant whistling for trifling and doubtful breaches produces bad feeling and loss of temper on the part of the players and spoils the pleasure of spectators." (Former International F.A. Board Decision 8 to Law V, now considered an integral element of the "Spirit of the Game.")
    •

    5.6 ADVANTAGE

  • Referees have the power to apply (and signal) the advantage upon seeing a foul or misconduct committed if at that moment the terms of the advantage clause (Law 5, 11th item) were met. The referee may return to and penalize the original foul if the advantage situation does not develop as anticipated after a short while (2-3 seconds). If the ball goes out of play during this time, then play must be restarted in accordance with the Law. Referees should note that the "advantage" is not defined solely in terms of scoring a goal. Also, a subsequent offense by a player of the offending team must not be ignored while the referee allows the anticipated development of the advantage. Such an offense may either be recognized by stopping play immediately or by applying the advantage clause again. Regardless of the outcome of the advantage call, the referee must deal appropriately with any misconduct at the next stoppage, before allowing play to be restarted. (See also 12.27.)

    The referee may also apply advantage during situations that are solely misconduct (both cautionable and send-off offenses) or to situations that involve both a foul and misconduct.

    The advantage applies only to infringements of Law 12 (fouls and/or misconduct) and not to infringements of other Laws. For example, there can be no advantage during an offside situation, nor may advantage be applied in the case of an illegal throw-in that goes to an opponent.

    The giving of the advantage is not required in all situations to which it might be applied. The referee may stop play despite an advantage if other factors (e.g., game control, severity of a foul or misconduct, possibility of player retaliation, etc.) outweigh the benefit of play continuing.

    •

    5.7 STOPPING PLAY

  • The referee has the power to stop the match for any infringement of the Laws, to apply advantage under the appropriate conditions, or to decide that an infringement is trifling or doubtful and should not be called at all. However, the referee also has the power to stop play for other reasons, including misconduct for which the referee intends only to warn the player regarding his behavior and not to issue a caution. In these circumstances, the referee should take care that ordering such a stoppage would not disadvantage the opposing team. As the stoppage will not have occurred for a foul or misconduct, play would be restarted with a dropped ball.
    •

    5.8 RETURN AFTER BLEEDING OR EQUIPMENT REMEDY

  • If a player is bleeding, he must leave the field immediately to have the bleeding stopped and his skin and uniform cleaned as thoroughly as possible. When the player is ready to return to the game, the referee will inspect the injured area and the uniform for blood before giving his permission to re-enter the game. The referee may not delegate this task to another official and must make himself available to inspect the bleeding. The referee inspection can occur only at a stoppage in play and the player may then enter the field from any point on the boundary line. The player who was instructed to leave the field to repair an equipment problem must go through exactly the same procedure, and the referee must make himself available to inspect the repair.
    •

    5.9 RETURN AFTER INJURY

  • If a player was permitted to leave the field for treatment of an injury, only the referee can allow this player to return to the field of play. This is not a substitution. The player who left the field for treatment of an injury may return during play with the permission of the referee, but only from the touch line. If the ball is out of play, the player may return with the permission of the referee across any boundary line.
    •

    5.10 BEHAVIOR OF COACH AND BENCH PERSONNEL

  • Coaches may provide tactical advice to their players, including positive remarks and encouragement. The referee should only take action against coaches or other team officials for irresponsible behavior or for actions that bring the game into disrepute. A coach or other team official may not be cautioned or sent off nor shown any card; however, at the discretion of the referee, such persons may be warned regarding their behavior or dismissed from the field of play and its immediate area. When a coach or other team official is dismissed, the referee must include detailed information about such incidents in the match report.
    •

    5.11 TERMINATING A MATCH

  • The referee may terminate a match for reasons of safety (bad weather or darkness), for any serious infringement of the Laws, because a team does not appear or leaves before completion of the game, or because of interference by spectators. Only the competition authority, not the referee, has the authority to declare a winner, a forfeit, or a replay of the match in its entirety. The referee must report fully on the events.
    •

    5.12 ABANDONING A MATCH

  • The referee may abandon a match if the field or any of its equipment do not meet the requirements of the Laws. An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules provide otherwise.
    •

    Law 6 - The Assistant Referees

    6.1 ASSISTANT REFEREE DUTIES

  • "Assistant referees, where neutral, shall draw the referee's attention to any breach of the Laws of the Game of which they become aware if they consider that the referee may not have seen it, but the referee shall always be the judge of the decision to be taken." (Former International F.A. Board Decision 1 to Law VI)
    •

    6.2 ASSISTANT REFEREE SIGNALS

  • Assistant referee signals should be restricted to those authorized by IFAB/FIFA (offside and the far, center, and near positions; throw-in; corner kick; goal kick; and substitution) or the USSF (foul, infringement inside the penalty area, or other signals described in the USSF Guide to Procedures), unless there is a clear need to communicate information to the players or to the referee that cannot be communicated in any other way. (For further guidelines, see the paragraph on signals in the advice on Law 5.)
    •

    6.3 NO SIGNAL FOR FOULS OBSERVED BY THE REFEREE

  • Assistant referees should not signal at all for fouls or misconduct that clearly occur in the sight of the referee.
    •

    6.4 MISSED ASSISTANT REFEREE SIGNALS

  • If the assistant referee signals a ball out of play, but the referee does not see his signal for an extended period, during which play is stopped and restarted several times, the assistant referee should lower the flag. The FIFA Referee Committee has declared that it is impossible for the referee to act on the assistant referee's signal after so much play. If the referee misses the assistant referee's signal for offside, the assistant referee should stand at attention with the flag raised until the defending team gains clear possession or until a goal kick or throw-in is awarded to the defending team. To avoid such situations, the referee should make eye contact with the assistant referees as often as possible. In addition, the assistant referees must be alert for and mirror each other's signals if needed to assist the referee.

    The assistant referee should maintain his signal if a serious foul or misconduct is committed out of the referee's sight or when a goal has been scored illegally. The referee should cover this situation during the pregame conference with the assistant referees.

    •

    6.5 RESPONSIBILITY FOR OFFSIDE

  • Among the specifically stated responsibilities of the assistant referee is to indicate "when a player may be penalized for being in an offside position." Because "it is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position," the assistant referee must interpret this responsibility to require that he determine not only if an attacker is in an offside position but also if that same player is involved in active play by interfering with play, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage by being in the offside position (see Law 11). The assistant referee should use his unique perspective on the touchline as a trained, neutral official and provide the appropriate signal so that the referee can make a final determination as to whether the attacker will be penalized for an offside infringement.
    •

    6.6 CLUB LINESMEN

  • Where neutral assistant referees are not available, the referee may use club linesmen. Club linesmen should report to the referee before the start of the game for instructions. The referee should make it clear that the decision of the referee is final and must not be questioned. The relationship of club linesmen to the referee must be one of assistance, without undue interference or any opposition. Club linesmen are to signal only when the ball is entirely over the goal line or touch line.
    •

    Law 7 - The Duration of the Match

    7.1 LENGTH OF HALVES

  • The referee may not arbitrarily shorten or lengthen the halves of a game where the time has been specified by the competition authority (league, tournament, etc.).
    •

    7.2 ADDING TIME

  • The amount of time the referee allows for time lost in either half of a game or in any overtime period for the reasons listed in Law 7 (Allowance for Time Lost) is entirely at his discretion. Referees should remember that, in addition to the reasons listed in Law 7, there are "other causes" that consume time, such as kick-offs, throw-ins, dropped balls, free kicks, and replacement of lost or defective balls. Many of the reasons for stoppages in play and thus "lost time" are, however, entirely normal elements of the game. This should be taken into account in applying discretion regarding the time to be added. The main objective should be to restore playing time to the match which is lost due to excessively prolonged or unusual stoppages.
    •

    7.3 MISTAKEN ENDING

  • If the referee ends play early, then the teams must be called back into the field and the remaining time must be played as soon as the error is detected. The halftime interval is not considered to have begun until the first period of play is properly ended. If the ball was out of play when the period was ended incorrectly, then play should be resumed with the appropriate restart (throw-in, goal kick, etc.). If the ball was in play, then the correct restart is a dropped ball where the ball was when the referee incorrectly ended play (subject to the special circumstances in Law 8).
    •

    7.4 DISCIPLINE DURING KICKS FROM THE PENALTY MARK OR EXTRA TIME

  • The Laws of the Game apply when additional time must be played or kicks from the penalty mark must be taken to satisfy a requirement by the competition authority that there be a winner of a match. Misconduct during extra time or kicks from the penalty mark is treated as if it had occurred during regulation time.
    •

    Law 8 - The Start and Restart of Play

    8.1 COIN TOSS

  • The decision made by the team winning the toss is no longer between which end of the field to defend or taking the kick-off. Now the decision is only which end of the field to attack; the other team takes the kick-off. When extra time is played, the coin toss again decides only which end the team winning the toss will attack in the first period of play. The team that wins the toss at extra time also kicks off to start the second period of extra time. A separate coin toss is required for kicks from the penalty mark; however, in this case, the winning team must kick first.
    •

    8.2 THE KICK-OFF

  • The ball must be kicked and move forward. Only minimal movement is needed to meet this requirement. The kick-off must be taken by a player competing in the match, in accordance with the Law, not by any non-player. Remember to note which team kicked off and in which direction the kick was taken.
    •

    8.3 PLAYER COUNT

  • Count the number of players in both teams before the beginning of each half and after any substitution. The referee's signal to start the second half is a tacit acknowledgment that the persons on the field are players and the persons wearing a goalkeeper jersey are the goalkeepers -- so long as the persons themselves are not illegal and the team is fielding the proper number of players.
    •

    8.4 INADVERTENT WHISTLE

  • If the referee mistakenly blows the whistle to stop play, the proper restart is a dropped ball at the place where the ball was when the whistle was blown (keeping in mind the special circumstances outlined in Law 8).
    •

    8.5 DROPPED BALL

  • There is no requirement that players from both teams -- or that any player -- must take part at a dropped ball.

    A dropped ball must be "dropped," not thrown down. The referee should hold the ball in the palm of his hand at waist level. At the proper moment, the referee should then pull away the hand beneath the ball and let it drop, taking care that the players do not play it until it has hit the ground. If the dropped ball leaves the field without having been played, the ball must be dropped again where it was previously dropped. The goalkeeper may participate at dropped balls.

    •

    8.6 COMMON ELEMENTS OF THE EIGHT METHODS OF RESTARTING PLAY

  • RESTART KICK-OFF THROW-IN GOAL KICK CORNER KICK INDIRECT FREE KICK DIRECT FREE KICK PENALTY KICK DROPPED BALL
    Reason for ball being out of play Start of game
    Start of 2nd half
    Goal scored    		 Ball passed completely over touch line Ball passed completely over goal line last touched by attacking team Ball passed completely over goal line last touched by defending team Non-penal foul, misconduct, offside, and certain technical offenses Penal foul, except when done by defending team in own penalty area Penal foul by defending team in own penalty area Any other temporary stoppage of the game by the referee
    Where is restart taken? Center of the field Within 1 meter of the point where the ball crossed the touch line From within goal area Quarter circle at nearest corner flag Where offense occurred (special circumstances in Law 8) Where foul occurred, with exception of penalty area (special circumstances in Law 8) Penalty mark Where ball was when play was stopped (special circumstances in Law 8)
    Distance opponents must be from ball 10 yards No specific distance; may not interfere Outside penalty area 10 yards, with exception of quick kick 10 yards, or own goal line between posts, or outside penalty area, except on quick kick 10 yards or outside penalty area, with exception of quick kick 10 yards, outside penalty area and behind penalty mark No distance required
    When ball is in play When ball moves forward When ball enters field When ball leaves penalty area When ball moves When ball moves, with exception of defender's kick in own penalty area When ball moves, with exception of defender's kick in own penalty area When ball moves forward When ball touches ground
    Can player who receives ball directly be declared offside? Does not apply No No No Yes Yes Treat as violation of Law 14 No
    Can a goal be scored directly? Yes No Yes, but only against opponent Yes, but only against opponent No Yes, but only against opponent Yes Only after ball hits ground

    • Law 9 - The Ball In and Out of Play

    9.1 BALL OUT OF PLAY

  • The ball is out of play when it has completely crossed the goal line or touch line, or when the referee has stopped play. The commission of a "supposed infringement" does not stop play; play can be stopped for any infringement only by the referee's signal.

    However, while it is the signal of the referee that announces a decision, play is considered to have stopped when the decision is made, not when the decision is announced. Thus, no act can be considered a foul if it occurs after the referee has decided to stop play (or after the ball has left the field) but before the signal has actually been given. The referee is the sole judge of when he has decided to stop play.

    •

    9.2 (There is no section 9.2)

    9.3 PLAY THE REFEREE'S WHISTLE

  • The Laws of the Game were not written to compensate for the mistakes of players. If a spectator blows a whistle and any player, thinking it was the referee, then illegally handles the ball, the referee could award a direct free kick (or penalty kick) to the opposing team. The same would be true if the player reacted to a referee's whistle from an adjacent field. If these things occur, the referee should exercise common sense in dealing with the action.
    •

    9.4 SIMULTANEOUS TOUCHES

  • The referee should promptly signal his best decision on the direction for the restart when the ball appears to have gone into touch from "simultaneous" touches by members of both teams, rather than simply giving a dropped ball. The players quickly identify referee indecision, and will use it to their advantage.
    •

    9.5 ILLUSTRATIONS OF BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY

    Law 10 - The Method of Scoring

    10.1 ONLY GOALS SCORED DURING PLAY ARE VALID

  • All goals scored during playing time are valid. Balls that enter the goal after time has expired -- in other words, after the referee has blown the whistle -- cannot be scored as goals.
    •

    10.2 SIGNALING A GOAL

  • Law 10 defines the only method by which a goal can be scored. Referees should signal a goal only when it is absolutely clear that the ball has wholly crossed the goal line, beneath the crossbar and between the goal posts. If a referee signals a goal before the ball has wholly crossed the goal line, the goal is not valid. The game must then be restarted with a ball dropped in accordance with the special circumstances outlined in Law 8.
    •

    10.3 STOPPING PLAY BEFORE A POSSIBLE GOAL

  • If a referee whistles for an infringement of the Laws before the ball has wholly crossed the goal line, beneath the crossbar and between the goal posts, the goal is not valid. The game must be restarted in accordance with the nature of the infringement, keeping in mind the special circumstances outlined in Law 8.

    • 10.4 FOULS COMMITTED WHILE A GOAL IS SCORED

  • If a defender infringes Law 12 in an attempt to prevent a goal but the ball continues into the goal and the referee does not signal to stop play, the goal is valid and the player must be cautioned or sent off, depending on the nature of the misconduct. If the attacking team infringes the Laws of the Game before scoring a goal, then the goal is not valid. For dealing with obvious goalscoring opportunities, see the section on Law 12.
    •

    10.5 GOAL SCORED OFF AN OFFICIAL

  • If the ball accidentally hits the referee or an assistant referee on the field of play and rebounds into goal, the referee must award the goal. To avoid being touched by the ball or interfering with play, assistant referees should remain off the field of play as much as possible and referees should avoid the immediate area where players are contesting for the ball.
    •

    10.6 OWN GOAL

  • An "own goal" scored by a team against itself is valid and is given to the opposing team.
    •

    10.7 OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE AND RESTART

  • If a spectator or other outside agent enters the field when the ball is going into goal and tries to prevent a score before the ball passes wholly over the goal line, a goal shall be allowed if the ball goes into goal, unless the spectator or outside agent has made contact with the ball or has interfered with play. If that occurs, the referee shall stop the game and restart it by dropping the ball at the place where the contact or other interference took place (keeping in mind the special circumstances outlined in Law 8). A goal may not be allowed based on where the ball might have gone in the absence of such contact or interference.
    •

    10.8 TIED SCORE

  • A game may end with the score tied unless the rules of the competition state otherwise.

    • 10.9 ILLUSTRATION OF GOAL OR NO GOAL

    Law 11 - Offside

    11.1 OFFSIDE POSITION

  • Offside position occurs when a player is nearer the opponents' goal line than the last two opponents and is ahead of the ball. Measure relative position by players' torsos, not their arms or legs. The torso of the attacking player must be no nearer the opponents' goal line than that of the second-last defender. It is not necessary to "see daylight" between them for one to be considered nearer than the other. Here are two examples:
    •

    11.2 JUDGMENT OF OFFSIDE POSITION

  • The referee and assistant referees must judge offside position only when the ball is played by a teammate of the attacking player. The referee's decision to penalize the player for being in that position can be made at the moment the offside position is judged if the other requirements of Law 11 are met, but it can also be made at any time from that point forward until a new action on the field puts the attacker "on-side" (see 11.15). The condition of being in an offside position (and the possibility of being penalized) continues no matter where that player may move, no matter where the ball may move, and no matter where the defenders may move. Only the occurrence of one of the events described in 11.15 can end this period.

    It is not an offense to be in an offside position; it is an offense to interfere with play or with an opponent or to gain an advantage when in such a position. In such cases the referee is the sole judge and makes the final decision accordingly.

    •

    11.3 ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT

  • A player becomes "actively involved" in the play only when he is in the "area of active play." This area shifts, widens, narrows, lengthens, or shortens, according to where the ball is going and who is "involved." Involvement includes attempting to play the ball or preventing others from having a fair play at the ball. Active involvement can occur without the ball being directly nearby. There are three elements in "active involvement." They are "interfering with an opponent," "interfering with play," and "gaining an advantage."

    Active involvement can come into play at any moment during the sequence of play. Here is a series of pictures showing how a player (A1) could be penalized for being offside, depending upon how the action unfolds.

    •

  • In the first diagram, A moves toward his opponents' goal while player A1 looks on. When A shoots and the ball rebounds from the goalkeeper to A1 (second diagram), the goal must be disallowed because A1, who was in an offside position when the ball was last played by A, was in active play and gained an advantage by being in that position. The offside position was noted when A shot the ball, but the offside infringement did not occur until the ball rebounded from the goalkeeper and was clearly moving toward A1. (The indirect free kick would be awarded where A1 was when his teammate shot at goal, just outside the goal area.) However, if A shoots for goal and scores (third diagram), the goal must be allowed. Although A1 is in an offside position, he is not involved in active play.
    •

    11.4 INTERFERING WITH AN OPPONENT

  • "Interfering with an opponent" means preventing an opponent from moving towards the ball. Interference can also include active physical or verbal distraction of the goalkeeper by an opponent.
    •

    11.5 INTERFERING WITH PLAY

  • "Interfering with play" means moving towards the opponent or the ball and thereby affecting how play develops. It is not necessary for a player to make contact with the ball or with an opponent to be judged as interfering with play.

    The referee should only decide that a player is interfering with play or with an opponent if that player-in the opinion of the referee, not in the opinion of the opponents-truly interferes with play or with an opponent in the area of active play. If so, then he should be called offside. Mere presence anywhere on the field should not be considered a distraction for the opponents.

    •

    11.6 GAINING AN ADVANTAGE

  • "Gaining an advantage" means being near enough to the play to capitalize immediately on a defender's mistake, having gained the advantage solely by being in the offside position.
    •

    11.7 MAKING THE OFFSIDE DECISION

  • The assistant referee should not signal simply because a player is in an offside position, but should look for active involvement. Furthermore, if an assistant referee is in any doubt as to whether a player is actively involved or not, he should decide in favor of the attacker; in other words, he should refrain from signaling offside. The referee, too, should be certain that there is active involvement before deciding for offside.
    •

    11.8 LEAVING THE FIELD TO AVOID OFFSIDE

  • If a player on the attacking side moves a little way beyond the boundary of the field of play to clearly show the referee that he is not interfering with play, he does not infringe the Laws. However, if the referee considers that such a movement has a tactical aim or is in any way a feint, and the player takes part in the game immediately after, the referee may deem his conduct to be unsporting behavior and caution him (yellow card). Play should be restarted in accordance with the Laws of the Game.
    •

    11.9 RETURNING TO THE FIELD TO PLAY THE BALL

  • If an attacking player passes beyond the boundary line for a moment in order to avoid an offside, but then re-enters the field of play and joins in the game and plays the ball that has been passed to him by a teammate, he should be penalized for offside. His momentary departure from the field of play is not considered as leaving the field without the referee's permission and does not warrant a caution.
    •

    11.10 PUTTING AN OPPONENT IN AN OFFSIDE POSITION UNFAIRLY

  • If a defending player moves beyond his own goal line or across a touch line to place an opponent in an offside position, the referee should not stop play immediately to caution the defending player, but should allow play to continue. The attacker should not be punished for the position in which he has been unfairly placed; however, the referee should caution the defending player for unsporting behavior at the next stoppage of play.
    •

    11.11 DEFENDER LEGALLY OFF THE FIELD OF PLAY

  • A defender who leaves the field during the course of play and does not immediately return must still be considered in determining where the second to last defender is for the purpose of judging which attackers are in an offside position. Such a defender is considered to be on the touch line or goal line closest to his off-field position. A defender who leaves the field with the referee's permission (and who thus requires the referee's permission to return) is not included in determining offside position.
    •

    11.12 OPPOSING ATTACKER ENTERS THE GOAL

  • If a forward in an offside position enters the goal (see illustration below) and one of his teammates kicks the ball into the goal, the goal is valid and the forward should not be punished if he remains stationary and does not interfere with the opponents as the ball enters the goal. If the forward moves or shouts as the ball enters the goal, and the referee believes this contributed to the scoring of the goal, the goal would not be valid and the forward should be cautioned for unsporting behavior. In this case, the forward would be punished for misconduct, not for offside, and the restart would be a dropped ball in accordance with the special circumstances of Law 8, as the forward was off the field of play.
    •

    11.13 LOCATION OF THE RESTART FOR OFFSIDE

  • As noted above, offside is punished where the infringement occurred. In other words, the indirect free kick should be taken from the place where the offside player was when his teammate played the ball. The kick should not be taken from the place where the second-to-last defender was. If the player being penalized for offside was legally off the field when his teammate last played the ball, the restart will be taken from the point on the touch line where the player re-entered the field.
    •

    11.14 WHEN IS A PLAYER IN AN OFFSIDE POSITION AT THE HALFWAY LINE?

  • Keeping in mind the requirement for active involvement in play, here are some guidelines for judging offside position at the halfway line:
    •
    1. If the player's toes are on the halfway line, but not over the line, there would be no offside.
    2. If the player's feet are on the halfway line, with the toes over the line (heels on his own side), there could be offside (if there is active involvement).
    3. If the player has one foot over the line and one foot completely on his own side, there could be offside (if there is active involvement).
    4. If the player has both feet on his own side of the line, but his head or hands extend over the line, there would be no offside. (It would not be justifiable to count the head or hands, as we usually judge offside based on the torso. An instance of a player with both feet completely on his own side and his body over and beyond the line and still ready to take an active part in play would be improbable at best.)

    11.15 BECOMING "ON-SIDE"

  • A player who is in an offside position at the moment the ball is played by a teammate can become "on-side" in only four ways: (1) The player is not in front of the ball when it is next played by one of his team; (2) the positions of the opponents change so the player is no longer in an offside position when the ball is next played by one of his team; (3) an opponent intentionally plays or gains possession of the ball; and (4) the ball goes out of play. The key point for all of these, other than the obvious case (4), is that someone other than the player in the offside position has to play the ball; he cannot put himself "on-side."
    •

    11.16 ILLUSTRATIONS OF "NOT OFFSIDE"

  • These pictures illustrate three situations where there can be no offside. In the first, realizing he is an offside position and not wanting to interfere with the opponents or with play, the player stands still. His action is correct and should not be penalized. The second and third pictures illustrate that a player cannot be declared offside if he receives the ball directly from a corner kick or a throw-in. Note that this exemption applies only to the first player to receive the ball; any subsequent play of the ball to a teammate could result in an offside decision by the referee.
    •

    Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

    Part A. Fouls

    12.1 WHAT IS A FOUL?

  • To be a foul, the action must be committed by a player while the ball is in play, against an opponent, and on the field of play. The only exception is deliberate handling of the ball, which is not committed against a particular opponent, but against the opposing team. If any of these three requirements is not met, the action is not a foul; however, the action can still be misconduct.

    Under the terms of Law 12, the word "deliberate" in the sense of deliberately committing a foul does not mean that the player intentionally set out to kick, push, trip, hold or otherwise foul his opponent. If that were so, the referee would have to be capable of reading a player's mind. Under Law 12, "deliberate" means that the referee makes a judgment based upon what he sees the player do. The referee makes the decision based upon the player's action, not upon what he thinks is in the player's mind.

    •

    12.2 THE PENAL FOULS

  • Ten offenses are described in Law 12 for which, if play is stopped as a result, the restart is a direct free kick (or a penalty kick if committed by a team within its own penalty area). These offenses are referred to as penal fouls. They are divided into two groups:
    •
      1. Six actions (kick, trip, jump at, charge, strike, or push, including the attempt to kick, trip, or strike) for which the referee must evaluate how the act was committed; and
      2. Four actions (making contact with an opponent during a tackle prior to contacting the ball, holding, spitting, deliberately handling the ball) for which the referee need only decide if the act occurred.
  • Referees should not punish actions that are accidental or inadvertent. In the case of the first group, the action becomes an offense only if the referee decides that it was committed carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force. In the case of the second group, the action alone is an offense, no matter how it was committed.
    •

    12.3 CARELESS, RECKLESS, INVOLVING EXCESSIVE FORCE

  • If the foul was careless, simply a miscalculation of strength or a stretch of judgment by the player who committed it, then it is a normal foul, requiring only a direct free kick (and possibly a stern talking-to). If the foul was reckless, clearly outside the norm for fair play, then the referee must award the direct free kick and also caution the player for unsporting behavior, showing the yellow card. If the foul involved the use of excessive force, totally beyond the bounds of normal play, then the referee must send off the player for serious foul play, show the red card, and award the direct free kick to the opposing team
    •

    12.4 TRIPPING

  • Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent includes situations in which the player moves under the opponent and uses his body to upset or upend the opponent. This is also known as "bridging." Referees must carefully distinguish an act of tripping from the fact of being tripped. Tripping or attempting to trip is an offense if it is clearly directed at an opponent and causes the opponent to falter or fall. Players, however, may trip over or fall over an opponent as a result of natural play and no infringement of the Law has been committed.
    •

    12.5 CHARGING

  • The act of charging an opponent can be performed without it being called as a foul. Although the fair charge is commonly defined as "shoulder to shoulder," this is not a requirement and, at certain age levels where heights may vary greatly, may not even be possible. Furthermore, under many circumstances, a charge may often result in the player against whom it is placed falling to the ground (a consequence, as before, of players differing in weight or strength). The Law does require that the charge be directed toward the area of the shoulder and not toward the center of the opponent's back (the spinal area): in such a case, the referee should recognize that such a charge is at minimum reckless and potentially even violent. It is a violation of Law 12 to perform an otherwise fair charge against an opponent who is already being fairly charged by another player. Such an action is at minimum a careless challenge. It is also holding and is commonly referred to as a "sandwich."
    •

    12.6 STRIKING

  • Striking can include the use of any object (including the ball) as well as hands, arms, head, or knees (if feet are used, the offense would be called as kicking). In the special case of a player using an object (shoe, stone, etc.) to strike an opponent, the restart is located where the offense originated. Thus, a goalkeeper has committed a penal foul within his own penalty area and play is restarted with a penalty kick if he throws a ball with excessive force at an opponent standing outside the penalty area. If the striking was initiated from a throw-in, the restart is taken from the place on the touch line where the throw-in was taken (the point from which the ball was thrown). On the other hand, if the goalkeeper or any other player, standing within his own penalty area, strikes an opponent who is outside the penalty area, the restart must be a direct free kick from the spot where the contact took place (outside the penalty area).
    •

    12.7 HOLDING

  • Holding an opponent includes the act of stretching the arms out to prevent an opponent from moving past or around.
    •

    12.8 MAKING CONTACT WITH THE OPPONENT

  • Making contact with the opponent after touching the ball while performing a tackle does not necessarily mean that a foul has not been committed. The declaration by a player that he has in fact played the ball is irrelevant if, while tackling the ball, the player carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force commits any of the prohibited actions.
    •

    12.9 DELIBERATE HANDLING

  • The offense known as "handling the ball" involves deliberate contact with the ball by a player's hand or arm (including fingertips, upper arm, or outer shoulder). "Deliberate contact" means that the player could have avoided the touch but chose not to, that the player's arms were not in a normal playing position at the time, or that the player deliberately continued an initially accidental contact for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage. Moving hands or arms instinctively to protect the body when suddenly faced with a fast approaching ball does not constitute deliberate contact unless there is subsequent action to direct the ball once contact is made. Likewise, placing hands or arms to protect the body at a free kick or similar restart is not likely to produce an infringement unless there is subsequent action to direct or control the ball. The fact that a player may benefit from the ball contacting the hand does not transform the otherwise accidental event into an infringement. A player infringes the Law regarding handling the ball even if direct contact is avoided by holding something in the hand (clothing, shinguard, etc.).
    •

    12.10 RULE OF THUMB FOR "HANDLING"

  • The rule of thumb for referees is that it is handling if the player plays the ball, but not handling if the ball plays the player. The referee should punish only deliberate handling of the ball, meaning only those actions when the player (and not the goalkeeper within his own penalty area) strikes or propels the ball with his hand or arm (shoulder to tip of fingers).
    •

    12.11 USE OF THE SHOULDER

  • Any use of the shoulder in playing the ball is considered as using the hand. This can mean that, even though the player leaves his hand/arm close to his body, he may have moved the body so as to strike or propel the ball with the arm or hand, and the referee must watch for actions of that sort. Propelling the ball forward using the front part of the shoulder is considered handling, even when the main area of contact between ball and body is the chest.
    •

    12.12 THE TECHNICAL FOULS

  • A second group of offenses is described in Law 12 for which the correct restart is an indirect free kick. These are referred to as "technical" fouls.
    •

    12.13 PLAYING IN A DANGEROUS MANNER

  • Playing "in a dangerous manner" can be called only if the act, in the opinion of the referee, meets three criteria: the action must be dangerous to someone (including the player himself), it was committed with an opponent close by, and the dangerous nature of the action caused this opponent to cease his active play for the ball or to be otherwise disadvantaged by his attempt not to participate in the dangerous play. Merely committing a dangerous act is not, by itself, an offense (e.g., kicking high enough that the cleats show or attempting while on the ground to play the ball). Committing a dangerous act while an opponent is near by is not, by itself, an offense. The act becomes an offense only when an opponent is adversely and unfairly affected, usually by the opponent ceasing to challenge for the ball in order to avoid receiving or causing injury as a direct result of the player's act. Playing in a manner considered to be dangerous when only a teammate is nearby is not a foul. Remember that fouls may be committed only against opponents.
    •

    12.14 IMPEDING AN OPPONENT

  • "Impeding the progress of an opponent" means moving on the field so as to obstruct, interfere with, or block the path of an opponent. Impeding can include crossing directly in front of the opponent or running between him and the ball so as to form an obstacle with the aim of delaying his advance. There will be many occasions during a game when a player will come between an opponent and the ball, but in the majority of such instances, this is quite natural and fair. It is often possible for a player not playing the ball to be in the path of an opponent and still not be guilty of impeding.

    The offense requires that the ball not be within playing distance or not capable of being played, and physical contact between the player and the opponent is normally absent. If physical contact occurs, the referee should, depending on the circumstances, consider instead the possibility that a charging infringement has been committed (direct free kick) or that the opponent has been fairly charged off the ball (indirect free kick, see also 12.22). However, nonviolent physical contact may occur while impeding the progress of an opponent if, in the opinion of the referee, this contact was an unavoidable consequence of the impeding (due, for example, to momentum).

    •

    12.15 PLAYING DISTANCE

  • A usable guideline for the concept of "playing distance" is the distance a player can cover in about two strides at the speed he or she is moving at the time. However, "playing distance" remains a matter of referee judgement.
    •

    12.16 GOALKEEPER POSSESSION OF THE BALL

  • The goalkeeper is considered to be in possession of the ball while bouncing it on the ground or while throwing it into the air. Possession is given up if, while throwing the ball into the air, it is allowed to strike the ground.
    •

    12.17 PREVENTING THE GOALKEEPER FROM RELEASING THE BALL INTO PLAY

  • An opponent may not prevent the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands. While players have a right to maintain a position achieved during the normal course of play, they may not try to block the goalkeeper's movement while he is holding the ball or do anything which hinders, interferes with, or blocks the goalkeeper who is throwing or punting the ball back into play. An opponent does not violate the Law, however, if he takes advantage of a ball released by the goalkeeper directly to him, in his direction, or even deflecting off him nonviolently.
    •

    12.18 THE "FOUR-STEP" RULE

  • The International Board has often emphasized the need to enforce strictly the requirement in Law 12 that a goalkeeper may not take more than four steps while controlling the ball with his hands and before releasing it into play. However, this restriction is not intended to include steps taken by the goalkeeper while gaining control of the ball, while moving as a natural result of momentum, or while moving around nearby opponents. Furthermore, an overly precise count of the goalkeeper's steps may often involve a trifling infringement if these steps are not, in the opinion of the referee, to the keeper's advantage or taken as a means of wasting time.
    •

    12.19 SECOND TOUCH BY THE GOALKEEPER

  • A goalkeeper who has taken hand control of the ball and then released it back into play may not handle the ball again until it has been played by an opponent anywhere on the field or by a teammate who is outside of the penalty area. Referees should note carefully Decision 3, which defines "control" and distinguishes this from an accidental rebound or a save.
    •

    12.20 BALL KICKED TO THE GOALKEEPER

  • A goalkeeper infringes Law 12 if he touches the ball with his hands directly after it has been deliberately kicked by a teammate. The requirement that the ball be kicked means only that it has been played with the foot. The requirement that the ball be "kicked to" the goalkeeper means only that the play is to or toward a place where the keeper can legally handle the ball. The requirement that the ball be "deliberately kicked" means that the play on the ball is deliberate and does not include situations in which the ball has been, in the opinion of the referee, accidentally deflected or misdirected. The goalkeeper has infringed the Law if he handles the ball after initially playing the ball in some other way (e.g., with his feet).
    •

    12.21 BALL THROWN TO THE GOALKEEPER

  • A goalkeeper infringes Law 12 if he touches the ball with his hands after he receives it directly from a throw-in taken by a teammate. Referees should take care not to consider as trickery any sequence of play that offers a fair chance for opponents to challenge for the ball before it is handled by the goalkeeper from a throw-in.
    •

    12.22 CHARGING AN OPPONENT AWAY FROM THE BALL

  • A player who charges an opponent in an otherwise legal manner (i.e., not carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force) but with the ball not within playing distance has infringed the Law. Such an "off the ball" charge is considered a form of impeding the progress of an opponent and is thus penalized with an indirect free kick restart for the opposing team.
    •

    12.23 GOALKEEPER TIMEWASTING

  • A goalkeeper wastes time, within the meaning of Law 12, if he maintains hand control of the ball for longer than 5-6 seconds. This restriction is to be evaluated in much the same way as the limitation on the steps a goalkeeper may take. Referees must not measure this time with any obvious visual or verbal counting. Goalkeepers who hold the ball for longer than 5-6 seconds will normally be warned by the referee before any more serious action is taken.
    •

    12.24 CHARGING THE GOALKEEPER

  • Referees must carefully observe any charge against the goalkeeper and call as an infringement of Law 12 only those charges which are performed carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force (direct free kick), are performed in a dangerous manner (indirect free kick), or prevent the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands (indirect free kick).
    •

    Part B. Misconduct

    12.25 CATEGORIES OF MISCONDUCT

  • Law 12 identifies seven categories of action for which a player may be cautioned and shown the yellow card. Another seven categories of action are identified for which a player may be sent off the field (expelled or dismissed) and shown the red card. A player sent from the field under Law 12 may not be replaced (i.e., the team must continue the match with one fewer player). A substitute sent from the field under Law 12 also may not be replaced, but this does not alter the number of players his team may field.
    •

    12.26 RESTARTS FOR MISCONDUCT

  • If play is stopped solely to deal with misconduct committed by a player on the field, the proper restart is an indirect free kick taken from the location of the misconduct (subject to the conditions imposed by Law 8 and Law 13). If play is stopped solely to deal with misconduct committed by a substitute, for misconduct committed off the field of play, or for team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner, the restart is a dropped ball taken from where the ball was when play was stopped (subject to the special circumstances of Law 8). If play is stopped for any reason in addition to misconduct, the restart is determined by the other reason. The restart cannot be a direct free kick unless the reason for the stoppage included a penal foul. If misconduct occurs while play is stopped, the restart is determined by the original reason for the stoppage.
    •

    12.27 WHEN TO PUNISH MISCONDUCT

  • Law 5 empowers the referee to take "disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offenses. He is not obligated to take this action immediately, but must do so when the ball next goes out of play." If the referee has applied advantage and delayed punishment for misconduct until the next stoppage, he must normally act quickly to prevent play from restarting when the next stoppage occurs so that the punishment will be recorded and the proper card displayed. In cases of serious misconduct where a sending-off will be ordered, the referee must be certain that he has the full opportunity to take the necessary actions despite any apparent loss of advantage due to a quick restart opportunity being denied. However, if the misconduct was less serious and the team that suffered the misconduct wishes to put the ball back into play quickly, the referee should weigh the value of the quick restart against the necessity to deal with the misconduct. If a quick restart is in the best interest of the game, then the referee should not interfere. In such a case, the referee must remember that by giving an immediate restart he no longer has the authority to caution the offender. He should take the next opportunity to warn the offending player about his conduct.
    •

    12.28 MANDATORY CAUTIONS

  • Although the decision to issue a caution and display the yellow card for an act of misconduct is in most cases a matter of discretion based on the opinion of the referee, there are various specific instances of misconduct for which the Laws of the Game mandate that a caution be given. These are identified below and elsewhere in bold print as a mandatory caution. Referees must carefully distinguish between those relatively few actions for which a caution is mandated by the Laws of the Game and the remaining actions for which a caution is discretionary. In most cases, the referee exercises discretion in deciding if the act he has observed comes under one of the seven categories of cautionable offenses found in Law 12.
    •

    12.29 CAUTIONABLE OFFENSES

    12.29.1 UNSPORTING BEHAVIOR

  • Among the specific actions considered cautionable as unsporting behavior, the following are noted:
    •

    12.29.2 DISSENT

  • Dissent is committed by words, actions (including gestures), or a combination of the two. The referee should evaluate dissent in terms of content (what exactly is said or done), loudness (the extent to which the dissent can be seen or heard widely), and whether it is clearly directed at an official (including assistant referees and fourth officials). The objective in dealing with dissent is to support the spirit of the game, to maintain the authority of the officials, and to reduce the likelihood of such behavior becoming widespread. A goalkeeper who leaves the penalty area (not beckoned by the referee) to engage the referee or an assistant referee in debate regarding a decision has committed dissent.
    •

    12.29.3 PERSISTENT INFRINGEMENT

  • Persistent infringement occurs either when a player repeatedly commits fouls or infringements or participates in a pattern of fouls directed against the same opponent. It is not necessary for the multiple fouls to be of the same type or all to be penal fouls, but infringements must be among those covered in Law 12 or involve failure to maintain the distance required under Laws 14 and 17. The referee must first warn the player that the pattern has been observed and, upon a subsequent violation, must then issue the caution. In cases where the referee sees a pattern of fouls directed against a single opponent, it is proper to warn the team that the pattern has been seen and then to caution the next player who continues the pattern, even if this specific player may not have previously committed a foul against this single opponent.

    Other examples of persistent infringement include a player who:

    •

    12.29.4 DELAYS THE RESTART OF PLAY

  • The following are specific examples of this form of misconduct:
    •

    12.29.5 FAILS TO RESPECT THE REQUIRED DISTANCE

  • This category of misconduct covers the requirement to be at least ten yards away from an opponent's free kick or corner kick. Cautions under this category are at the discretion of the referee. (See Law 13 for a more detailed discussion. See also the remarks under entry 12.29.3.)
    •

    12.29.6 ENTERS OR RE-ENTERS THE FIELD OF PLAY WITHOUT THE REFEREE'S PERMISSION

  • Players who leave the field with the referee's permission require the referee's permission to return to the field. Examples of this include a player who attempts to come onto the field:
    •

    12.29.7 DELIBERATELY LEAVES THE FIELD OF PLAY WITHOUT PERMISSION

  • This category of misconduct normally refers to a situation in which an opponent leaves the field in an attempt, in the opinion of the referee, to place an attacker in an apparent offside position.
    •

    12.30 SENDING-OFF OFFENSES

  • A player who commits serious foul play, violent conduct, a deliberate handling of the ball which denies a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, or a foul which denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity must be sent from the field. These categories of misconduct are discussed in more detail in Parts C and D below. A player who commits any of the following actions will also be sent from the field:
    •

    12.31 HOW TO ADMINISTER THE SEND-OFF FOR A SECOND CAUTION

  • A player who receives a second caution must be shown the yellow card for the second caution and must then be shown the red card for the sending-off offense. The second caution leading to dismissal from the field can occur at any time during the match (including the half time interval, additional periods of play, and kicks from the penalty mark).
    •

    12.32 EVALUATING LANGUAGE

  • The referee should judge offensive, insulting, or abusive language according to its content (the specific words or actions used), the extent to which the language can be heard by others beyond the immediate vicinity of the player, and whether the language is directed at officials, opponents, or teammates.
    •

    Part C. Serious Foul Play and Violent Conduct

    Soccer is a tough, combative, contact sport where the contest to gain possession of the ball should nonetheless be fair and sporting. Serious Foul Play and the related offense of Violent Conduct are strictly forbidden. They violate the Spirit of the Game and the referee must respond to them by stringently applying the Laws of the Game: The punishment is sending-off (players) or dismissal (nonplayers).

    Referees must be particularly vigilant regarding offenses which are too severe for a caution and which include one or more of the following additional elements:

    Such offenses are completely unacceptable to the Spirit of the Game, the enjoyment of spectators, the education of youth players, and the safety of the players themselves. All violations of the Law which meet these criteria must be called (stopping play or applying advantage) and the appropriate further punishment for misconduct must be administered.

    12.33 SERIOUS FOUL PLAY

  • It is serious foul play when a player uses violence (excessive force; formerly defined as "disproportionate and unnecessary strength") when challenging for the ball on the field against an opponent. There can be no serious foul play against a teammate, the referee, an assistant referee, a spectator, etc. The use of violence or excessive force against an opponent under any other conditions must be punished as violent conduct.
    •

    12.34 VIOLENT CONDUCT

  • It is violent conduct when a player (or substitute) is guilty of aggression towards an opponent (when they are not contesting for the ball) or towards any other person (one of his teammates, the referee, an assistant referee, a spectator, etc.). The ball can be in or out of play. The aggression can occur either on or off the field of play.
    •

    12.35 RESTARTS

  • The restart for serious foul play is either a direct free kick or a penalty kick. Restarts are more complicated for violent conduct. This chart illustrates the restarts appropriate to incidents of violent conduct:
    •

    OFFENSE COMMITTED

    ON FIELD BY PLAYER

    OFF FIELD BY ANYONE OR ON FIELD BY NONPLAYER

    AGAINST

    OPPONENT

    ANY OTHER PERSON

    OPPONENT OR ANY OTHER PERSON

    RESTART

    DFK FROM SPOT OF OFFENSE (PK)

    IFK FROM SPOT OF OFFENSE*

    DROPPED BALL AT SPOT WHERE BALL WAS*

    PUNISHMENT

    SEND OFF

    BALL OUT OF PLAY?

    RESTART MUST BE APPROPRIATE TO REASON BALL WAS OUT OF PLAY

    *SUBJECT TO THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES LISTED IN LAW 8

    Part D. Denying an Obvious Goalscoring Opportunity

    12.36 DENYING A GOAL OR AN OBVIOUS GOALSCORING OPPORTUNITY

  • There are two sending-off offenses that deal with denying an opponent a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity. These occur in cases where a player: (a) "denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)" or (b) "denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick." This would apply to any player other than the goalkeeper in his own penalty area who handles a ball to prevent it from entering the goal, whether the ball was last played by the opposing team or not.
    •

    12.37 PUNISHMENT

  • The denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity is punished by sending off (red card) the guilty player, even though there may have been no contact between the players involved.
    •

    12.38 CRITERIA FOR AN OBVIOUS GOALSCORING OPPORTUNITY

  • The referee must consider five criteria when deciding whether or not the conditions during an infringement of Law 12 constituted an obvious goalscoring opportunity:
    •
      1. The direction of play (the player must be running toward the opponents' goal, not toward the goal line or the corner).
      2. The proximity of the ball (could the player have reached it to play it?).
      3. The location and number of opponents able to participate immediately (one or none between the player and the goal, in addition to the opponent infringing Law 12).
      4. The location of the foul (the farther from goal, the less likely it is that an obvious goalscoring opportunity existed).
      5. There was a reasonable chance for a shot (not a definite goal, but at least a chance to shoot).
  • Even if all these criteria are met, it is still the judgment and opinion of the referee that determines if the event was an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
    •

    12.39 APPLYING THE ADVANTAGE

  • Even if the referee makes use of the advantage clause during an obvious goalscoring opportunity, he can still punish the offender after the fact. If a goal is directly scored despite the attempted intervention by a defender handling the ball, fouling an opponent, or committing misconduct, the offender cannot be sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, but he can still be cautioned for unsporting behavior or sent off for serious foul play if the foul involved excessive force. However, if in these circumstances the goal was scored following a second or immediately subsequent play of the ball, the offender must nevertheless be sent off because his action prevented a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity during the first play when the infringement occurred.
    •

    12.40 ILLUSTRATIONS

  • Here are some illustrations to aid you in understanding the difference between situations that are obvious goalscoring opportunities and those that are not.
    •

    Figure 1Figure 2

  • • In Figure 1, attacking player No. 9 is moving towards his opponents' goal. He has beaten defender No. 6 and has only the goalkeeper between himself and the goal. He has therefore an obvious goalscoring opportunity. No. 6 trips him from behind, denying him an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The referee should send off No. 6 (red card) and award a penalty kick to No. 9's team. It would be a direct free kick if it had been committed outside the penalty area.

    • Figure 2 shows the same situation as described in Figure 1, but with other defenders in addition to the goalkeeper between No. 9 and the opponents' goal. In this case there would be no sending-off, but a penalty kick would be awarded to No. 9's team. The referee retains the option to caution No. 6 for unsporting behavior.

    The same punishments would have been given for any other penal foul by the defending team in either of these situations. Impeding an opponent can also mean denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, and this is covered in Figures 3 and 4, which illustrate holding and impeding, respectively.

    •

    Figure 3Figure 4

  • • In Figure 3, attacking player No. 9 is moving towards his opponents' goal. The last defender (in addition to the goalkeeper) deliberately moves in front of No. 9 and makes contact to stop him from reaching the ball, therefore taking away from him an obvious opportunity to score a goal. The referee should send off the last defender and restart with a direct free kick for No. 9's team. If the offense had occurred in the penalty area, the proper restart would be a penalty kick. If there had been more defenders behind the defender, the referee would simply award a direct free kick to No. 9's team.

    • Figure 4 is similar to the previous one, except that in this case the last defender (other than the goalkeeper) moves in front of No. 9 and impedes him without making physical contact, so that he is prevented from reaching the ball, thus denying him the goalscoring opportunity. The referee should send off the last defender and restart with an indirect free kick. If there had been other defenders behind this defender, he would not be sent off.

    The Diagrams published in the 1996-1997 Laws of the Game (then labeled "Serious Foul Play," but now called "denies a goal," etc.) continue to be valid guidance for judging obvious goalscoring opportunities and referees should continue to consult them. Diagrams 1-10 illustrate issues involved in deciding if a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity has been denied.

    •

    Diagram 1

  • In Diagram 1, the attacker is making his way towards goal with an obvious goalscoring opportunity when he is tripped by a defender. The defender must be sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
    •

    Diagram 2

  • In Diagram 2, an attacker is making his way towards goal when he is tripped by an opponent. He does not, however, have an obvious goalscoring opportunity, because there are too many defenders between him and the goal.
    •

    Diagram 3

  • In Diagram 3, an attacker making his way to goal with an obvious goalscoring opportunity attempts to move past the goalkeeper, who holds him. A penalty kick is awarded and the goalkeeper must be sent off. (The referee must distinguish between this case and one in which the goalkeeper obviously attempts to play the ball, misses the ball, and thus trips the attacker who is not heading directly for goal. That offense would still result in a penalty kick, but the goalkeeper would not be sent off.)
    •

    Diagram 4

  • In Diagram 4, an attacker is held by the goalkeeper inside the penalty area and a penalty kick is awarded. The attacker is moving away from goal and so does not have an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
    •

    Diagram 5

  • In Diagram 5, the attacker is tripped inside the penalty area and a penalty kick is awarded. There is, however, no obvious goalscoring opportunity since the player is moving away from goal.
    •

    Diagram 6

  • In Diagram 6, the attacker, No. 11, is tripped but there is no obvious goalscoring opportunity since he is not moving towards goal. Direct free kick.
    •

    Diagram 7

  • In Diagram 7, an attacker shoots for goal, but an outfield player punches the ball over the bar, thus preventing a goal being scored. This player must be sent off for denying a goal by deliberately handling the ball. If the defender had punched or handled the ball and the ball had entered the goal, he would not have been sent off according to Law 12, but he should be cautioned for unsporting behavior.
    •

    Diagram 8

  • In Diagram 8, an attacker plays the ball and it is deliberately handled by a defender inside the penalty area. A penalty kick is awarded. The defender would not be sent off, as there were too many defenders between the offense and the goal. If the ball had struck the defender on the hand accidentally, no offense would have been committed and play would have been allowed to continue.
    •

    Diagram 9

  • In Diagram 9, the attacker is running on to a forward pass and has an obvious goalscoring opportunity. A defender jumps up and deliberately handles the ball, thus preventing an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The defender must be sent off and the game restarted with a direct free kick for the attacking team.
    •

    Diagram 10

  • In Diagram 10, an attacker is running on to a forward pass with an obvious goalscoring opportunity when the goalkeeper rushes from his goal and deliberately handles the ball outside the penalty area. The goalkeeper must be sent off for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity by handling the ball outside the penalty area. The game is restarted with a direct free kick for the attacker's team.
    •

    Law 13 - Free Kicks

    13.1 FREE KICKS

  • This restart is called a "free kick" because it may be taken "freely" by the team to which it has been awarded -- without interference, hindrance, or delay. Free kicks are awarded for fouls, misconduct, a combination of the two, or offside. A direct free kick is given if play is stopped for a penal foul committed by a player against an opponent on the field of play (except when it is committed by a defender within his own penalty area -- see Law 14, Penalty Kick). An indirect free kick is given if play is stopped for any other foul or if play is stopped solely to deal with misconduct committed on the field by a player, or for offside. A free kick may be taken in any direction. (This does not apply to penalty kicks. See Law 14.)

    • 13.2 REQUIRED DISTANCE FOR OPPONENTS

  • All opponents must be at least ten yards away in all directions from the location of the free kick. Exceptions to the required distance are noted below (free kick for defenders inside their own penalty area, indirect free kick for the attacking team within ten yards of the opponents' goal, or a quick free kick by the attacking team). Referees should use discretion in cautioning for an infringement.
    •

    13.3 QUICK FREE KICK

  • The referee should move quickly out of the way after indicating the approximate area of the restart and should do nothing to interfere with the kicking team's right to an immediate free kick. At competitive levels of play, referees should not automatically "manage the wall," but should allow the ball to be put back into play as quickly as possible, unless the kicking team requests help in dealing with opponents infringing on the minimum distance.

    • 13.4 RESTARTS WITHIN THE GOAL AREA

  • Special rules in Law 8 govern free kick restarts within the goal area or by defenders within their own penalty area.

    • 13.5 ENFORCING THE REQUIRED DISTANCE

  • If the referee decides to delay the restart and to enforce the required minimum distance, he must tell the players not to start until he gives a clear signal to do so. An attacker who restarts play without a signal should be verbally warned and, upon repetition, be cautioned for unsporting behavior. An opponent who moves closer to the spot of the kick (from any direction) before it is taken must be cautioned and shown the yellow card if the referee has delayed the restart to ensure that the opponents are at the minimum distance.

    If one or more opponents fail to respect the required distance before the ball is properly put into play, the referee should stop the restart to deal with this infringement. The free kick must be retaken even if the momentum of play causes the ball to be kicked before the referee signals. The infringement plus the referee's decision to deal with it cancel any apparent restart regardless of a delay in announcing the decision.

    The referee is expected to deal with opponents who fail to respect the required distance, even in situations in which they were induced to do so by attackers appearing to put the ball into play, but where the ball was not kicked (touched with the foot and moved).

    An attacking team which chooses to take a free kick with an opponent closer than the minimum distance may not thereafter claim infringement of the distance requirement, even if the ball is kicked directly to the infringing opponent, who thereby gains control of the ball.

    •

    13.6 BALL IN PLAY

  • The ball is in play (able to be played by an attacker other than the kicker or by an opponent) when it has been kicked and moved. The distance to be moved is minimal and the "kick" need only be a touch of the ball with the foot. Under these circumstances, however, the referee must judge carefully whether any particular touch of the ball and subsequent movement was indeed reasonably taken with the intention of putting the ball into play rather than with the intention merely to position the ball for the restart. Referees should not penalize a kicker unfairly by calling as a restart a touch and movement of the ball which, either at the time or based on the kicker's immediately subsequent actions, was clearly not intended as such. Likewise, referees should not unfairly punish "failing to respect the required distance" when an opponent was clearly confused by a touch and movement of the ball which was not a restart.
    •

    13.7 FREE KICK IN OWN PENALTY AREA

  • When the free kick is awarded to the defending team inside its own penalty area, the minimum distance requirement applies in all directions around the location of the restart and all opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball has gone into play.

    A free kick taken by the defending team from within its own penalty area must be kicked out of the penalty area and into the field of play. The ball has not been properly put into play if, under these circumstances, it leaves the field of play before leaving the penalty area. Such a kick must be retaken as no infringement has occurred.

    •

    13.8 INDIRECT FREE KICK WITHIN 10 YARDS OF OPPONENTS' GOAL

  • Defenders (including the goalkeeper) may be closer than ten yards from an indirect free kick restart only if they are standing on the goal line and are between the goal posts. Referees must exercise special care not to restrict the kicking team's right to a quick indirect free kick simply in order to enforce this exception to the minimum distance requirement.
    •

    13.9 STOPPAGE FOR MISCONDUCT

  • When play is stopped solely to deal with misconduct committed by a player on the field, the indirect free kick is taken from the place where the misconduct occurred. If the referee applies advantage to the misconduct and subsequently stops play when the advantage no longer exists, the restart is still taken from the place where the original misconduct occurred.
    •

    13.10 SIGNAL FOR INDIRECT FREE KICK

  • The failure of the referee either to give the correct signal for an indirect free kick or to hold it for the required period of time does not change the nature of the restart, nor does it alter the requirement for a subsequent touch of the ball for a goal to be scored.
    •

    Law 14 - The Penalty Kick

    14.1 PENALTY KICK DEFINED

  • The penalty kick is a ceremonial restart which is awarded when the defending team commits a penal foul within its own penalty area. There is no requirement as to the severity or seriousness of the foul, the score of the game, the amount of time remaining in the period of play, the direction play was moving, the likelihood of a goal being scored, or any factor other than the commission of the foul itself inside the defender's penalty area. Referees are reminded that it is the location of the foul, not the position of the ball, which determines whether a penalty kick is the correct restart.
    •

    14.2 PLACEMENT OF THE BALL

  • The ball must be placed correctly at the penalty mark, regardless of the state of the pitch at this location. Moving the ball elsewhere, even with the apparent agreement of the players, is not permitted.
    •

    14.3 WHEN THE PENALTY KICK MAY BE TAKEN

  • The referee will not signal for the penalty kick to be taken until and unless the goalkeeper is on the goal line between the goal posts and facing the field, the attacking player taking the penalty kick is clearly identified to the referee and the goalkeeper, and all players other than the kicker and goalkeeper are outside the penalty area, outside the penalty arc, and not nearer the goal line than the penalty mark. If the penalty kick is taken before the referee signals, the kicker should be warned and, upon repetition, cautioned for unsporting behavior. The kick must be retaken.
    •

    14.4 GOALKEEPER MOVEMENT

  • Once the referee signals for the penalty kick, the goalkeeper may move from side to side on the goal line, but may not move off the goal line (into the field or backward) until the ball has been kicked. The requirement to be "on the goal line" is met even if one or both of the goalkeeper's feet are not physically touching the ground, so long as the goalkeeper has not moved forward or backward from the plane of the goal line.
    •

    14.5 RETAKING THE PENALTY KICK

  • If a penalty kick is ordered retaken, it is not necessary for the same player to perform the restart.
    •

    14.6 KICKING THE BALL FORWARD FOR A TEAMMATE

  • The identified kicker may play the ball forward for a teammate, who was properly positioned at the time the kick occurred, to run forward and play the ball.
    •

    14.7 BALL BURSTS/OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE DURING A PENALTY KICK

  • If, after the kick has been taken, the ball is stopped or interfered with by an outside agent, or if it bursts on its way toward the goal, the kick shall be retaken. (This includes a ball that bursts upon hitting the goal post or crossbar and continues into goal.) However, if the ball bursts or the interference occurs after the ball rebounds from a goal post, crossbar, or goalkeeper, the penalty kick will be deemed to have been taken and the normal restart in such circumstances (dropped ball) will apply.
    •

    14.8 PENALTY KICKS AT THE END OF THE HALF

  • Penalty kicks, once awarded, are taken regardless of the amount of time remaining in the half. If time expires or will expire before the restart can occur, the referee should announce this fact and indicate clearly that the penalty kick is now being taken "in extended time." No player other than the goalkeeper can participate in play after the penalty kick is taken. In case of an "extended time" penalty kick, the goalkeeper may be replaced, if necessary, by a substitute if the maximum number of substitutions has not been exceeded, or he may be replaced by an eligible player on the field. All players must remain on the field until the penalty kick has been completed. The referee has no authority to make the players leave the field or the vicinity of the penalty area for the taking of a penalty kick in extended time.
    •

    14.9 INFRINGEMENTS OF LAW 14

  • Infringements of Law 14 may occur either before the ball is in play or after the penalty kick has been taken.

    Infringements before the ball is in play may be committed by the kicker, the goalkeeper, or by their teammates. In all such cases, the referee should let the kick proceed and deal with the infringement in accordance with the chart below, which outlines the proper restarts for clear infringements of Law 14.

    Infringements after the penalty kick has been taken may be committed by the kicker or by an outside agent.

    •
  • This chart illustrates the proper restarts for clear infringements of Law 14:
    •
    RESULT OF KICK NO INFRINGMENT INFRINGEMENT BY KICKING TEAM INFRINGEMENT BY DEFENDING TEAM INFRINGEMENT BY BOTH TEAMS
    ENTERS GOAL GOAL RETAKE 1 GOAL 1 RETAKE 1
    GOES DIRECTLY OUT OF PLAY GOAL KICK GOAL KICK 1 RETAKE 1 RETAKE 1
    REBOUNDS INTO PLAY FROM GOAL/GOALKEEPER PLAY CONTINUES PLAY

    CONTINUES 1,2

    		 RETAKE 1 RETAKE 1
    SAVED AND HELD BY GOALKEEPER PLAY CONTINUES PLAY

    CONTINUES 3

    		 RETAKE 1 RETAKE 1
    DEFLECTED OUT OF PLAY BY GOALKEEPER CORNER KICK CORNER KICK 1 RETAKE 1 RETAKE 1
    1 WARNING ON FIRST OFFENSE; CAUTION TO OFFENDER FOR PERSISTENT INFRINGEMENT ON SECOND OFFENSE. 2IF REBOUND TO INFRINGING ATTACKER, STOP PLAY, IFK TO DEFENDING TEAM.3 WARNING GIVEN AS PLAY CONTINUES;CAUTION, WHEN GIVEN, AT NEXT STOPPAGE
  • Cautions should not be given for first offenses under Law 14. This includes failure by members of either team to respect the required distance, infringements by the kicker prior to the penalty kick being taken, or the goalkeeper who infringes on the requirement not to come off the goal line prior to the penalty kick being taken. In all cases, referees should caution for persistent infringement if the same player infringes the requirement again. (See 14.10.)
    •

    14.10 CAUTIONING FOR SUBSEQUENT INFRINGEMENTS OF LAW 14

  • If any requirement of Law 14 is infringed after the referee signals for the kick, the referee should warn the player committing the violation and, upon a repetition (then or subsequently), caution him for persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game. Such infringements include moving into the penalty area or the penalty arc, moving nearer the goal line than the penalty mark, having the kick taken by someone other than the identified player, the identified kicker engaging in unfair deception while taking the kick, and the goalkeeper moving off the goal line before the ball is in play. At all times, however, the referee is expected to distinguish between clear infringements of Law 14 and those which are merely doubtful or trifling.

    If in fact a player does repeat an infringement of Law 14 on the same or a subsequent penalty kick, the referee must follow the same procedure as for first infringements, except that if play is stopped at any time during the process, the caution must be given before the restart. If play does not stop "naturally" for a goal, corner kick, goal kick, etc., the referee must stop the game, issue the caution, and then restart with an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the spot where the misconduct occurred (subject to the special circumstances described in Law 8).

    •

    14.11 GOALKEEPER DEFLECTS BALL OVER GOAL LINE AND NOT INTO GOAL

  • If a teammate of the kicker infringes any requirement of Law 14 and a goal is not scored, but the goalkeeper saves the shot by deflecting the ball over the crossbar or outside the goal posts, the correct restart is a corner kick. This issue is currently under discussion by the IFAB and the indicated correct restart may change as a result.
    •

    Law 15 - The Throw-In

    15.1 LOCATION OF THROW-IN

  • Although the throw-in is to be taken "from the point where [the ball] crossed the touch line," this requirement is satisfied if the restart occurs within approximately one yard (one meter) of this location, farther upfield or downfield or back from the touch line. A throw-in taken beyond this limit is an infringement of Law 15.
    •

    15.2 BALL IN PLAY FROM A THROW-IN

  • The ball is considered to have entered the field and is therefore in play if it touches, while still in the air, the outer edge of the vertical plane of the touch line.
    •

    15.3 PROPERLY TAKEN THROW-IN

  • A throw-in must be performed while the thrower is facing the field, but the ball may be thrown into the field in any direction. Law 15 states that the thrower "delivers the ball from behind and over his head." This phrase does not mean that the ball must leave the hands from an overhead position. A natural throwing movement starting from behind and over the head will usually result in the ball leaving the hands when they are in front of the vertical plane of the body. The throwing movement must be continued to the point of release. A throw-in directed straight downward (often referred to as a "spike") is therefore not correctly performed and may result in the restart being awarded to the opposing team. There is no requirement in Law 15 prohibiting spin or rotational movement. Referees must judge the correctness of the throw-in solely on the basis of Law 15.

    The acrobatic or "flip" throw-in is not by itself an infringement so long as it is performed in a manner which meets the requirements of Law 15.

    A player who lacks the normal use of one or both hands may nevertheless perform a legal throw-in provided the ball is delivered over the head and provided all other requirements of Law 15 are observed.

    Here are some illustrations of foot positioning that is allowed or not allowed. The shaded areas indicate where the thrower's foot touches the ground.

    •

    15.4 ILLEGAL OR IMPROPERLY TAKEN THROW-IN

  • Referees must distinguish between a throw-in which infringes on the requirements of Law 15 and one which is performed improperly such that the restart is said not to have been taken. In the first case (infringement), possession of the restart is given to the opponents and taken from the same location; under no circumstances may advantage be applied to a throw-in performed illegally. In the case of a throw-in which is not properly completed, the restart must be taken again by the same team from the same location.

    A throw-in may not be performed from a kneeling position under any circumstances.

    If the ball touches the ground outside the field before entering the field or if it does not enter the field at all, the throw-in has not properly been taken and must be performed again.

    •

    15.5 TRIFLING INFRINGEMENTS OF LAW 15

  • Referees are reminded that the primary function of the throw-in is to put the ball back into play as quickly as possible. At competitive levels of play, therefore, apparent technical infringements of Law 15 should often be deemed trifling or doubtful so long as an advantage is not obtained by the team performing the throw-in and the restart occurs with little or no delay.
    •

    15.6 NO GOAL DIRECTLY FROM A THROW-IN

  • Neither team may score a goal directly from a throw-in. If the ball is thrown directly into a team's own goal (with no intervening touch or play), the correct restart is a corner kick. If the ball is thrown directly into the opposing team's goal, play is restarted with a goal kick.
    •

    15.7 OPPONENT BEHAVIOR AT A THROW-IN

  • Opponents are prohibited from unfairly distracting or impeding the thrower (violations are punished by a mandatory caution for unsporting behavior). This means that an opponent may not jump about or wave his arms in a distracting manner, move to block the freedom of movement of the thrower, stand directly in front of the thrower so as to harass him, or move to block a throw in a particular direction.
    •

    15.8 THROW-IN STRIKES AN OPPONENT

  • A throw-in taken in such a way that the ball strikes an opponent is not by itself a violation of the Law. The act must be evaluated separately as a form of striking and dealt with appropriately if judged to be unsporting behavior (caution) or violent conduct (send off from the field). In either event, if deemed a violation, the restart is located at the place on the touch line where the throw-in was taken.
    •

    Law 16 - The Goal Kick

    16.1 BALL PLACEMENT AT A GOAL KICK

  • The ball is placed so that it touches the ground within the goal area, including the lines which enclose it. The outer edge of the ball could extend beyond or outside the goal area itself and still meet this requirement.

    Here are some examples of ball positions for goal kicks:

    •

    16.2 BALL IN PLAY FROM A GOAL KICK

  • The ball is in play when it is kicked beyond the penalty area into the field of play. A goal kick which results in the ball leaving the field before exiting the penalty area has not been properly taken and must be retaken. No infringement of any Law occurring before the ball leaves the penalty area can result in any restart other than a retaking of the goal kick.
    •

    16.3 SCORING DIRECTLY FROM A GOAL KICK

  • Only the team taking a goal kick can score a goal directly from this restart. There can be no "own goal" on a goal kick. If a properly taken goal kick goes directly (with no touch or play by any player) into the goal of the kicking team, the proper restart is a corner kick for the opposing team. Because a team cannot score directly against itself from a goal kick, no infringement of the Law by a member of the kicking team can be considered to have prevented a goal or a goalscoring opportunity within the meaning of Law 12 without some intervening play of the ball.
    •

    16.4 OPPONENTS MUST REMAIN OUTSIDE THE PENALTY AREA

  • An opponent who infringes on the requirement to remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play should be warned and, upon a repetition, cautioned for persistent infringement. In any event, the goal kick is retaken.
    •

    16.5 TIME WASTING BY THE KICKING TEAM

  • Upon being awarded a goal kick, the defending team wastes time if the ball is clearly placed within the goal area in preparation for the restart and then is moved unnecessarily to another location. The referee may caution and show the yellow card for either persistent infringement or delaying the restart of play in situations where the offense is committed a second time by the same team after a warning is given.
    •

    Law 17 - The Corner Kick

    17.1 BALL PLACEMENT FOR A CORNER KICK

  • The corner kick restart is taken from the corner on the side of the field nearest to where the ball crossed the goal line. In cases where the selection of the correct corner may be doubtful, the referee will decide and announce the correct corner clearly and firmly.

    The requirement that the ball be placed within the corner arc is satisfied if the ball rests on the ground at any point inside the corner arc or on any part of the lines which enclose the corner arc. In practice, this means that a ball properly placed for a corner kick could extend beyond the area of the corner arc, including beyond the field itself.

    Here are some examples of ball positioning for corner kicks:

    •

    17.2 LOCATION OF THE KICKER AT A CORNER KICK

  • Law 17 does not limit where the player taking the corner kick must initiate this restart. The kicker may be off the field, either beyond the touch line or beyond the goal line.
    •

    17.3 BALL IN PLAY FROM A CORNER KICK

  • The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves. The act of kicking the ball includes any play of the ball with the foot, and only minimal movement is needed to meet the requirement.
    •

    17.4 RESTARTS IF BALL LEAVES FIELD FROM A CORNER KICK

  • If the ball is properly placed and, as a result of the kick, immediately leaves the field across the goal line, the correct restart is a goal kick. If the ball immediately goes across the touch line, the correct restart is a throw-in for the opposing team. Any movement of the ball is sufficient to put it into play.
    •

    17.5 KICKING TEAM MAY NOT SCORE AGAINST ITSELF

  • If the ball enters the attacking team's own goal directly from a corner kick, the correct restart is a corner kick for the opposing team. The kicking team cannot score against itself directly from a corner kick.
    •

    "Law 18" - Common Sense

  • "Law 18, still unwritten but frequently quoted as the ultimate goal of refereeing: 'Intelligence in the perception of the game, the attitude of the players, the place and the moment of the offense.'" (Michel Vautrot, FIFA Referee Committee, FIFA Magazine, June 1997)
    •

    Index

    Abandoning a match 5.12
    Active involvement 11.3-11.7, 11.14
    Adding time 3.6, 7.2
    Advantage 5.6, 5.7, 12.27, 12.39, 13.9, 15.4, 15.5
    Allowed number of players 3.1, 3.3
    Allowing substitutions 3.6
    Applying the advantage 12.27, 12.39
    Assistant referee duties 6.1
    Assistant referee signals 6.2
    Ball 2.1
    Ball bursts/outside interference during a penalty kick 14.7
    Ball in play

    common elements

    		 8.6

    from a corner kick

    		17.3

    from a free kick

    		13.6

    from a goal kick

    		16.2

    from a kick-off

    		 8.2

    from a throw-in

    		15.2
    Ball kicked to the goalkeeper 12.20
    Ball out of play 9.1
    Ball placement

    for a corner kick

    		17.1

    for a goal kick

    		16.1
    Ball thrown to the goalkeeper 12.21
    Becoming "on-side" 11.15
    Behavior of coach and bench personnel 5.10
    Bleeding 5.8
    Bridging 12.4
    Careless 12.2, 12.3, 12.5, 12.8, 12.24
    Categories of misconduct 12.25
    Cautionable offenses 12.27, 12.29
    Cautioning for repeated infringements of Law 14 14.10
    Charging 12.5
    Charging an opponent away from the ball 12.22
    Charging the goalkeeper 12.24
    Club linesmen 6.6
    Coin toss 8.1
    Common sense 18
    Criteria for an obvious goalscoring opportunity 12.36
    Defender legally off the field of play 11.11
    Delay during substitution 3.5
    Deliberate 12.1, 12.20
    Deliberate handling 12.1, 12.2, 12.9, 12.10, 12.11, 12.29, 12.30, 12.36
    Deliberately leaves the field of play without permission 12.29.7
    Denying a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity 12.36, 12.38, 12.40
    Departing player 3.12
    Dimensions of the field 1.1
    Discipline to substitutes 3.13
    Dissent 12.29.2
    Dropped ball 3.3, 3.10, 5.7, 7.3, 8.4, 8.5, 9.4, 11.12, 12.26, 14.7
    Enforcing the required distance 13.5
    Enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee's permission 12.29.6
    Excessive force 12.2, 12.3, 12.6, 12.9, 12.24, 12.32, 12.33, 12.38
    Fails to respect the required distance 12.29.5, 13.2, 13.5, 13.6, 14.10
    Fair charge 12.5
    Field markings 1.5
    Flagposts 1.4
    Footwear 4.5
    Foul (What is a foul?) 12.1
    Fouls committed while a goal is scored 10.4, 12.39
    Fouls observed by the referee 6.3
    Four-step rule 12.18
    Free kick in own penalty area 13.7
    Free kicks 13.1
    Gaining an advantage 11.6
    Goal after time has expired 10.1
    Goal off an official 10.5
    Goalkeeper deflects ball over goal line and not into goal on penalty kick 14.11
    Goalkeeper movement 14.4
    Goalkeeper timewasting 12.23
    Goalkeeper uniforms and equipment 4.4
    Goals 1.3
    Holding 12.7, 12.40 (Fig. 3)
    How to administer the send-off for a second caution 12.31
    Illegal or improperly taken throw-in 15.4
    Illegally returning to play 3.11
    Illustrations of "not offside" 11.16
    Impeding an opponent 12.14, 12.40 (Fig. 4)
    Inadvertent whistle 9.2
    Incorrect uniform or equipment 4.6
    Infringements of Law 14 14.9
    Interfering with an opponent 11.4
    Interfering with play 11.5
    Jewelry 4.3
    Judgment of offside position 11.2
    Kick-off 8.2 (see also 8.1)
    Kicker's deception at penalty kick 14.10
    Kicking team may not score directly against itself 17.5
    Kicking the ball forward to a teammate 14.6
    Leaving the field in the course of play 3.9
    Leaving the field to avoid offside 11.8
    Leaving the field to put an opponent in an offside position 11.10
    Leaving the field without permission 3.8
    Length of halves 7.1
    Lines 1.4
    Location of the kicker at a corner kick 17.2
    Location of the restart for offside 11.3, 11.13
    Location of throw-in 15.1
    Making contact with the opponent 12.8
    Making the offside decision 11.7
    Misconduct

    Behavior of coach and bench personnel

    		5.10

    Categories of misconduct

    		12.25

    Cautionable offenses

    		12.29

    Cautioning for subsequent infringements of Law 14

    		14.10

    Deliberately leaves the field of play without permission

    		12.29.7

    Enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee's permission

    		12.29.6

    Fails to respect the required distance

    		12.29.5, 13.3, 13.5, 14.9, 14.10

    Illegally returning to play

    		3.11

    Leaving the field without permission

    		3.8

    Opponent behavior at throw-in

    		15.7

    Pregame or postgame disciplinary procedures

    		3.14

    Putting an opponent in an offside position unfairly

    		11.10

    Restarts for misconduct

    		12.26

    Returning to the field to play the ball

    		11.9

    Sending-off offenses

    		12.30

    Serious foul play

    		12.33, 12.35

    Stoppage for misconduct

    		13.9

    Terminating a match

    		5.11

    Unsporting behavior

    		1.5, 3.11, 3.12, 11.8, 11.10, 11.12, 12.3, 12.29.1, 12.38, 12.40 (Fig. 2), 12.40 (Diag.7), 13.5, 14.3, 15.7, 15.8

    Violent conduct

    		12.30, 12.31, 12.34, 12.35, 15.8
    Missed assistant referee signals 6.4
    Mistaken ending 7.3
    No goal directly from a throw-in 15.6
    Number of players 3.1, 3.3
    Obvious goalscoring opportunity 12.36-12.40
    Offside

    Active involvement

    		11.3, 11.4, 11.5, 11.6, 11.7, 11.14

    Becoming "on-side"

    		11.15

    Defender legally off the field of play

    		11.11

    Illustrations of "not offside"

    		11.16

    Interfering with an opponent

    		11.4

    Interfering with play

    		11.5

    Leaving the field to avoid offside

    		11.8

    Location of the restart for offside

    		11.3 (diagram), 11.13

    Offside decision

    		11.7

    Offside position

    		11.1, 11.2, 11.7

    Offside position at the halfway line

    		11.14

    Opposing attacker enters the goal

    		11.12

    Putting an opponent in an offside position unfairly

    		11.10

    Returning to the field to play the ball

    		11.9
    Opponent behavior at a throw-in 15.7
    Opponents must remain outside the penalty area 13.7
    Opposing attacker enters the goal 11.12
    Outside interference and restart 10.7
    Own goal 10.6
    Penal fouls 12.2-12.11
    Penalty kick defined 14.1
    Penalty kicks at the end of the half 14.8
    Persistent infringement 12.29.3
    Placement of the ball 14.2, 16.1, 17.1
    Player count 3.3, 8.3
    Player modifications to field 1.6
    Players' equipment 4.1-4.6
    Playing distance 12.15
    Playing in a dangerous manner 12.13
    Pregame conference 5.3, 6.4
    Pregame or postgame disciplinary procedures 3.14
    Preventing the goalkeeper from releasing the ball into play 12.17
    Properly taken throw-in 15.3
    Putting an opponent in an offside position unfairly 11.10
    Quick free kick 13.3 (see also 12.27)
    Reckless 12.2, 12.3
    Referee uniform 5.1
    Referee's authority 5.2
    Referee's signals 5.4
    Required distance for opponents 12.29.5, 13.2, 13.3, 13.7, 13.8, 14.3, 14.9, 14.10, 16.4
    Restarts

    common elements

    		 8.6

    for infringements of Law 3

    		3.15

    for infringements of Law 14

    		14.9

    for misconduct

    		12.26

    for violent conduct

    		12.35

    if ball leaves field from a corner kick

    		17.4

    within the goal area

    		13.4
    Retaking the penalty kick 14.5
    Return after bleeding or equipment remedy 5.8
    Return after injury 5.9
    Returning to the field to play the ball 11.9
    Safety 1.2, 4.2
    Scoring directly from a goal kick 16.3
    Second touch by the goalkeeper 12.19
    Sending-off offenses 12.30- 12.40
    Serious foul play 12.3, 12.33, 12.35
    Signal for indirect free kick 13.10
    Signaling a goal 10.2
    Simultaneous touches 9.4
    Spectator blows a whistle 9.3
    Stoppage for misconduct 12.26
    Stopping play before a possible goal 10.2, 10.3
    Striking 12.6
    Substitutes 3.1
    Substitution procedure 3.4
    Summer referee uniform 5.1
    Technical fouls 12.12- 12.24
    Terminating a match 5.11
    Throw-in strikes an opponent 15.8
    Tied score 10.8
    Time wasting by the kicking team (goal kick) 16.5
    Too many substitutions 3.7
    Trickery 12.21, 12.29.1
    Trifling infractions 5.5
    Trifling infringements of Law 15 15.5
    Tripping 12.4
    Unauthorized marks 1.5
    Unfair advantage 1.5, 4.3, 12.3, 12.9
    Unsporting behavior 1.5, 3.11, 3.12, 11.8, 11.10, 11.12, 12.3, 12.29.1, 12.38, 12.40 (Fig. 2), 12.40 (Diag. 7), 13.5, 14.3, 15.7, 15.8
    Use of the shoulder 12.5, 12.9, 12.10, 12.11
    Violent conduct 12.30, 12.31, 12.34, 12.35,15.8
    Wearing uniforms 4.1
    What is a foul? 12.1
    When the penalty kick may be taken 14.3
    Whistle from an adjacent field 9.3