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Laws of the game
2024/25
2023/24
About the laws
Notes and modifications
Notes on the Laws
General Modifications
Guidelines for Temporary Dismissals
Guidelines for Return Substitutes
Additional permanent concussion substitutions protocol
Laws 1-17
1
The Field of Play
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1
The Field of Play
1.1
Field surface
1.2
Field markings
1.3
Dimensions
1.4
Dimensions for international matches
1.5
The goal area
1.6
The penalty area
1.7
The corner area
1.8
Flagposts
1.9
The technical area
1.10
Goals
1.11
Goal Line Technology (GLT)
1.12
Commercial advertising
1.13
Logos and emblems
1.14
Video assistant referees (VARs)
2
The Ball
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2
The Ball
2.1
Qualities and measurements
2.2
Replacement of a defective ball
2.3
Additional balls
3
The Players
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3
The Players
3.1
Number of players
3.2
Number of substitutions
3.3
Substitution procedure
3.4
Changing the goalkeeper
3.5
Offences and sanctions
3.6
Players and substitutes sent off
3.7
Extra persons on the field of play
3.8
Player outside the field of play
3.9
Goal scored with an extra person on the field of play
3.10
Team captain
4
The Players' Equipment
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4
The Players' Equipment
4.1
Safety
4.2
Compulsory equipment
4.3
Colours
4.4
Other equipment
4.5
Slogans, statements, images and advertising
4.6
Offences and sanctions
5
The Referee
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5
The Referee
5.1
The authority of the referee
5.2
Decisions of the referee
5.3
Powers and duties
5.4
Video assistant referee (VAR)
5.5
Referee's equipment
5.6
Referee signals
5.7
Liability of match officials
6
The Other Match Officials
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6
The Other Match Officials
Introduction
6.1
Assistant referees
6.2
Fourth official
6.3
Additional assistant referees
6.4
Reserve assistant referee
6.5
Video match officials
6.6
Assistant referee signals
6.7
Additional assistant referee signals
7
The Duration of the Match
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7
The Duration of the Match
7.1
Periods of play
7.2
Half-time interval
7.3
Allowance for time lost
7.4
Penalty kick
7.5
Abandoned match
8
The Start and Restart of Play
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8
The Start and Restart of Play
Introduction
8.1
Kick-off
8.2
Dropped ball
9
The Ball in and out of Play
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9
The Ball in and out of Play
9.1
Ball out of play
9.2
Ball in play
10
Determining the Outcome of a Match
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10
Determining the Outcome of a Match
10.1
Goal scored
10.2
Winning team
10.3
Penalties (penalty shoot-out)
11
Offside
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11
Offside
11.1
Offside position
11.2
Offside offence
11.3
No offence
11.4
Offences and sanctions
12
Fouls and Misconduct
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12
Fouls and Misconduct
Introduction
12.1
Direct free kick
12.2
Indirect free kick
12.3
Disciplinary action
12.4
Restart of play after fouls and misconduct
13
Free Kicks
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13
Free Kicks
13.1
Types of free kick
13.2
Procedure
13.3
Offences and sanctions
14
The Penalty Kick
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14
The Penalty Kick
Introduction
14.1
Procedure
14.2
Offences and sanctions
14.3
Summary table
15
The Throw-in
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15
The Throw-in
Introduction
15.1
Procedure
15.2
Offences and sanctions
16
The Goal Kick
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16
The Goal Kick
Introduction
16.1
Procedure
16.2
Offences and sanctions
17
The Corner Kick
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17
The Corner Kick
Introduction
17.1
Procedure
17.2
Offences and sanctions
VAR protocol
FIFA Quality Programme
Glossary
Football Bodies
Football Terms
Referee Terms
Guidelines for Match Officials
Introduction
Positioning, movement and teamwork
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Positioning, movement and teamwork
1
General positioning and movement
2
Positioning and teamwork
Body language, communication and whistle
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Body language, communication and whistle
1
Referees
2
Assistant referees
3
Additional assistant referees
Other advice
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Other advice
1
Advantage
2
Allowance for time lost
3
Holding an opponent
4
Offside
5
Injuries
6
Treatment/assessment after a caution/sending-off
PDF Downloads
Audio Files
Law changes
2024/25
2023/24
TRIALS
ONLY THE CAPTAIN CAN APPROACH THE REFEREE
COOLING-OFF PERIODS
GOALKEEPER HOLDING THE BALL FOR TOO LONG
CONCUSSION SUBSTITUTES
Deliberate heading
Body cameras
The IFAB
Background
Organisation
Work process
Calendar
History of the laws
Introduction
Highlights
The First Rules of Football
Offside Rule
Match Officials
Penalty Kicks
Number Of Players
Substitutes
Yellow And Red Cards
Rules For Determining The Winner
Back-Pass Rule
Goal-Line Technology
VAR Technology
Key changes
All proposals
Overview
Documents
News
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History highlights
Highlights
Key Changes
All Proposals
Overview
1886
1891
1893
1894
1897
1920
1925
1950
1986
2000
2018
2020
2021
1886
The First Rules of Football
The development of football rules before the foundation of The IFAB.
See details
1891
Match Officials
Introduction of the referee and 'linesmen' as match officials on the field of play.
See details
1893
Penalty Kicks
Penalty kicks were introduced. Deliberately tripping or holding an opposing player, or deliberately handling the ball within the penalty area became penalised with a penalty kick.
See details
1894
Offside Rule
From 1866 to 1925, the player was only offside if there were fewer than three opponents in front of him/her.
See details
1897
Number Of Players
Number Of Players
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1920
Substitutes
Two substitutes may be used by each team (even if players are not injured).
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1925
Yellow And Red Cards
Yellow and red cards were used for the first time at the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. They became mandatory at all levels of football in 1992.
See details
1950
Rules For Determining The Winner
Kicks from the penalty mark replaced drawing lots to determine the winner of the match in knockout phases.
See details
1986
Back-Pass Rule
The goalkeeper cannot touch the ball with the hand after it has been deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a team-mate.
See details
2000
Goal-line-technology
Introduction of the goal-line technology (GLT) to assist the referee in deciding whether a goal has been scored.
See details
2018
VAR Technology
Video Assistant Referees (VAR) allowed in association football, helping to increase integrity and fairness in the game.
See details
2020
12 article
12 article
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2021
13 article
13 article lead
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