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Current update
Law Amendments 2008-2009
Law Changes 2008-2009
International Football Association Board (IFAB) Law Changes for Season 2008/2009 (effective from 1 July 2008).
At its Annual General Meeting today in Gleneagles, Scotland, the IFAB has decided to put on ice goal-line technology and to stop tests in this area until further notice. Amongst others, the questions of the human aspect of the game, the universality of the Laws of the Game, as well as the simplicity and efficiency of the technology were taken into consideration.
However, the IFAB has approved a proposal from FIFA to conduct an experiment involving two additional assistant referees who will mainly focus on fouls and misconduct in the penalty area. The competition in which this test will be conducted will be decided at a later stage.
The Board also discussed a proposal from the Scottish FA regarding the use of video evidence to sanction simulation after the game. Although the suggestion was not approved, the IFAB members agreed that simulation is an act of cheating which must be intensively fought and sanctioned during the game and that all member associations would be encouraged to do so.
Furthermore, a proposal submitted by the FA and called Fair Play Convention, aimed at dealing with injured players while the game is in progress ,was acknowledged but not approved, mainly on the grounds that fair-play is an instinct behaviour rather than an attitude to rule.
Regarding the Laws of the Game, the IFAB approved the following amendments:
Law 1 - The Field of Play
In order to standardize the size of the football pitch for A international matches, the IFAB has decided to set a fixed size of 105m long and 68m wide (instead of a minimum and maximum length - from 100m to 110m - and a minimum and a maximum width - from 64m to 75m - as mentioned in the present text).
Law 2 - The Ball
Within the FIFA Quality Concept for footballs, the IFAB has agreed that the new 'FIFA APPROVED', 'FIFA INSPECTED' and 'International Matchball Standard' logos, which were launched in May 2007, will replace the former logos displayed in the present text.
Revision of the Laws of the Game
The last major revision of the text of the Laws of the Game was one 11 years ago. Since then, many additions and amendments have been made to the Laws themselves and various publications as well as teaching materials have been produced. As a result, a further revision was overdue. The IFAB has approved the revision which contains no major change in content but simplifies the wording of the Laws.
On other business, it's been agreed that a discussion about the look and design of the ball will be submitted to the agenda of the next sub-committee meeting.
Also, as it already did last year, the Board stressed that people in the technical areas should have no access and view to pitch-side monitors.
Finally, the FIFA President made a strong appeal against violent tackles on the field of play, reiterating that "players committing such acts should be banned".
The International F.A. Board is composed of the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who each have a vote, together with FIFA, who represent the other 204 member associations with four votes. For a proposal to succeed, it must receive the support of at least three-quarters of those present and entitled to vote. Changes to the Laws of the Game come into force as from 1 July following the Annual General Meeting.
In accordance with the principle of rotation, the 122nd Annual General Meeting of the International F.A. Board was held in Scotland by one of the four British associations. Next year, the IFAB will convene in N Ireland.
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Amendments 2001
Law Amendments 2001
Golden Goal integrated into Laws of the Game
International F.A. Board wants referees to apply rules more strictly
Football's law-makers will instruct referees to apply the Laws of the Game more strictly as a means against players who hold their opponents or pull them by their shirts.
The International Football Association Board, holding its 115th annual general meeting in Edinburgh (Scotland) on Saturday, 10 March, decided that relevant mandatory instructions would be issued to match officials throughout the world.
The stance taken by the International F.A. Board follows an increase in offences of this type since the introduction of a ban on tackles from behind, which the referees are also asked to sanction more strictly, and a ban on simulating fouls, with the fouled player frequently reacting and the situation tending to escalate.
Moreover, the Board decided to add the Golden Goal provisions to the Laws of the Game as a method of determining the winning team along with taking kicks from the penalty mark.
In future, not only the coach but also other team officials, such as the assistant coach, may -- one at a time -- convey tactical instructions to the players during a match. They eventually have to return to their bench but no longer need to do so immediately. The change was advocated by FIFA on the recommendation of its Technical Committee.
Regarding disciplinary action, only a player or substitute or substituted player may be shown the red or yellow card. A player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area. Red and yellow cards may not be shown to team officials, who in case of indiscipline are to be reported to the relevant bodies by the referee.
The celebration of goals is only to be considered as a punishable offence if it borders on provocation or leads to time-wasting. Contrary to current regulations, it will no longer automatically be a cautionable offence if a player takes off his shirt to celebrate a goal. In this respect, the International F.A. Board and FIFA recognise the natural and emotional joy of scoring goals.
The amendments to the Laws come into force on 1 July this year.
The Board also discussed the experiment in England by which free kicks are advanced by 9.15 metres (10 yards) when a player of the penalised team fails to respect the required distance or delays the restart of the game. The Board felt the results of the ongoing experiments were not yet sufficiently conclusive and extended the tests for another year, albeit under slightly modified circumstances. FIFA will also conduct such tests at this year's U-17 World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago from 14 - 30 September as part of the education of young players to respect the Laws of the Game.
The experiment with two referees to officiate matches, on the other hand, has been abandoned as it has not yielded sufficiently positive results.
The International F.A. Board acknowledged the importance of artificial turf and endorsed the quality concept recently introduced by FIFA. It was also stated that official FIFA qualification matches may be played on appropriate artificial surfaces because the quality of this type of surface has improved significantly.
Furthermore, the meeting reiterated that advertising and clubs' logos on goal nets are not allowed.
The International F.A. Board is constituted by: The Football Association (England), The Scottish Football Association, The Football Association of Wales, The Irish Football Association and FIFA, each of which is represented by four delegates. FIFA has four votes on behalf of all affiliated national associations in membership. The other member associations each have one vote. For a proposal to succeed, it must receive the support of at least three-quarters of those present and entitled to vote.
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Amendments 2002
Law Amendments 2002
The IFAB met in Switzerland in March 2002 and very little was done to change the Laws (good I hear you say).
Most of the meeting was devoted to the World Cup, asking referees to clamp down on players diving / simulating (cheating).
The following takes effect from 1 July 2002:
Law 4 - Players' Equipment
Advertising is only permitted on jerseys, not on shorts, socks or boots. No advertising on undershirts. (Just for Cameroon) Shirts must have sleeves.
Law 5 -Referee
An injured player may only return to the field of play after the match has restarted.
Law 12 - Fouls & Misconduct
Indirect Free kick to opposing team if goalkeeper commits one of four (not five) offences.
There is also further information, instructions and directives:
Referees instruced to take strong action against players guilty of simulation (caution for unsporting beaviour).
Referees must apply Law when players delay restart of play.
Where time wasting takes place with goal celebrations, referees should take action.
Finally...it is good to see that additional instructions for officials will now be printed in the LOTG book (and not separately as before).
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Amendments 2003
Law Amendments 2003
At the IFAB meeting in March 2003, only minor amendments were made to the Laws.
The changes are as follows:
The procedure used to determine the winner of a match with kicks from the penalty mark. The team that wins the toss now has the choice of whether to take the first or second kick.
In the additional instructions for referees, assistant referees and 4th officials, the Board has now added a provision reminding referees to apply the Law correctly in cases of infringement by players entering the penalty area before the ball has been kicked or goalkeepers moving off the goal line before the ball has been kicked.
FIFA also granted permission to experiement with the use of high-frequencly radio communication systems between match officials, which will improve the co-ordination of actions between match officials in a more efficient manner. It is likely that the first test will be conducted at the FIFA Confederations Cup from 18-29 June 2003, in France.
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Amendments 2004
Law Amendments 2004
Uniformity on extra time and penalty shoot-outs – Artificial turf approved for use in official matches
28 February 2004 -At its 118th Annual General Meeting in London today (28 February 2004), the International Football Association Board (IFAB), chaired by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, approved a number of amendments to the Laws of the Game.
Key decisions reached included the following:
- Law 1 – The Field of Play: If permitted under the applicable competition rules, matches may be played on a natural turf or artificial turf surface. In the case of artificial turf, the surface must meet the requisite quality standards (i.e. the FIFA Quality Concept for Artificial Turf or the International Artificial Turf Standard).
- Law 3 – The Number of Players: No more than six substitutions per team shall be permitted in friendly matches [NB This only applies to games involving National teams].
- Law 10 – Method of Scoring: With regard to the method for determining the winner of a match, the IFAB ruled in favour of extra-time, consisting of two periods of no more than 15 minutes each, followed by kicks from the penalty mark. As a result, matches will no longer be decided by “golden goal” or “silver goal”.
- Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct: Any player removing his jersey after scoring a goal shall be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.
Furthermore, Law 5 will now dictate that if the rules of a competition endorse the use of a fourth official, his function and responsibilities shall correspond with those laid down by the IFAB.
All of the changes to the Laws of the Game shall come into force worldwide on 1 July 2004.
The IFAB chose to reject proposals to increase the maximum length of the half-time interval from 15 to 20 minutes and to advance free kicks by 9.15 metres if a player from the penalised team fails to retreat the required distance or prevents the free kick from being taken.
The 118th Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board forms part of a weekend of FIFA Centennial celebrations in London to pay tribute to the British associations’ key contribution to the game of football. To mark the occasion, the members of the FIFA Executive Committee were invited to attend the IFAB meeting for the very first time.
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Amendments 2005
Law Amendments 2005
International F.A. Board approves goal-line technology experiments - no more "passive" offside
Zurich, 26 February 2005 - FIFA will be supervising the first official tests of technical systems that could determine whether the ball has fully crossed the goal-line at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship to be held in Peru from 16 September to 2 October. This decision was reached by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at its 119th Annual General Meeting near Cardiff, Wales, on 26 February. The Board also clarified the current offside rule by further defining the meaning of being "actively involved in play" and decided to impose stricter sanctions for any tackles deemed to be endangering the safety of an opponent. From now on, match officials must also show the red card to players who make dangerous tackles from the front or the side.
"Was that a goal?" is a question that always seems to be on the lips of fans, players, coaches and referees, and not just since England's infamous third goal during the 1966 FIFA World Cup™ final at Wembley. In recent years, the Board has often debated whether technology could help match officials make quick decisions in unclear situations regarding whether a goal has been scored or not. At its meeting at the Miskin Manor hotel, the Board listened to a presentation by long-term FIFA partner adidas, who together with the German company, Cairos AG and the German Fraunhofer Institute have developed a system with a prototype of a ball with an embedded electronic chip. The presentation also outlined the necessary stadium infrastructure and demonstrated how the entire system would work. Following the presentation, the International F.A. Board decided to allow the system to be tested in competitive football and empowered FIFA to do so at the U-17 world championship in Peru.
FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter welcomed the Board's decision. "Not a day goes by without technology making progress. We therefore have a duty to at least examine whether new technology could be used in football. The Board had already agreed to test goal-line technology, provided that the systems were available. The critical issue, however, will be to ensure that such technology would not affect the Laws' universal nature or the authority of match officials."
Law 11 - Offside - was also the subject of several proposals, and as a result, by introducing the new International F.A. Board Decision 2 for Law 11, the Board also clarified when a player is to be regarded as "actively involved in play":
" Interfering with play means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team mate.
" Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.
" Gaining an advantage by being in an offside position means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a post or crossbar or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position.
Moreover, the Board clarified the explanation of a player being offside "if he is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent". As a result, the position of any part of the player's head, body or feet will be the deciding factor, and not the player's arms.
Further IFAB decisions:
" With respect to Law 3 (The number of players), in National A team matches, up to a maximum of six substitutes may be used. In all other matches, a greater number of substitutes may be used provided that the teams concerned reach agreement on a maximum number and the referee is informed before the match.
" Regarding Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct), once a referee has terminated a match, he cannot change a decision. However, the referee has the authority to impose disciplinary sanctions from the moment he enters the field of play until he leaves the pitch after the final whistle.
" In relation to Law 14 (Throw-in), in future all opponents must be at least two metres from the thrower until the ball is in play.
A number of proposals, such as the Football Association of Wales' proposal that a player could only be offside when in the opponents' penalty area, were withdrawn before the meeting.
The main detail behind the new amendments are:
LAW CHANGES FOR SEASON 2005/2006
(As from 1 July 2005)
Law 3 - The Number of Players (Submitted by FIFA)
Other Matches.
In other matches, up to six substitutes may be used (only applies to national team "A" matches).
In all other matches (club, youth and women's football etc.) it is permissible to use a greater number of substitutes, if both teams agree before starting the match and inform the referee accordingly. If there is no agreement, up to six substitutes may be used.
Law 3 - The Number of Players (Submitted by FA Wales)
Infringements/Sanctions (If a substitute enters the field of play without the referee being informed.)
Bullet point 3
Play is restarted with an indirect free kick at the place it was located when the play was stopped.
Law 5 - The Referee (Submitted by FA Wales)
Decisions of the Referee
Once the referee has terminated the match, he cannot change a decision.
Law 11 - Offside (Submitted by FIFA)
New International FA Board Decision 1
In the definition of offside position, "nearer to his opponents' goal line" means that any part of his head, body or feet is nearer to his opponents' goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent. The arms are not included in this definition.
New International FA Board Decision 2
The definitions of elements of involvement in active play are as follows:-
Interfering with play means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team mate.
Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent's line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent.
Gaining an advantage by being in that position means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a post or the crossbar having been in an offside position or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position.
Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct (Submitted by FIFA)
Decision 4 of the IFAB
A tackle, from behind which endangers the safety of an opponent, must be sanctioned as serious foul play.
The words "from behind" are to be deleted. A tackle from behind but also from the side or the front, which injures or could have injured the opponent, must be sanctioned as serious foul play.
Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct (Submitted by FA Wales)
Disciplinary Sanctions
The Referee has the authority to take disciplinary sanctions, as from the moment he enters the field of play until he leaves the field of play after the final whistle.
Law 14 -The Penalty Kick (Submitted by FIFA)
Infringements/Sanctions
The player taking the penalty kick infringes the Laws of the Game - Bullet point three.
If the ball does not enter the goal, the kick is not retaken the referee stops play and restarts the match with an indirect free kick to the defending team.
A team-mate of the player taking the kick enters the penalty area or moves in front of or within 9.15m (10 yds) of the penalty mark - Bullet point three.
If the ball does not enter the goal, the kick is not retaken, the referee stops play and restarts the match with an indirect free kick to the defending team.
Law 15 -The Throw-In (Submitted by FA Scotland)
Procedure (additional sentence)
All opponents must stand no less that 1.83 metres (2 yds) from the point at which the throw-in is taken.
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Amendments 2006
Law Changes 2006-2007
International Football Association Board (IFAB) Law Changes for Season 2006/2007 (effective from 1 July 2006).
Note: the text eliminated, is shown as crossed through like this. The new text is shown in bold italic.
Law 4 - The Players Equipment
The FIFA proposal to add the following words 'comprise the following separate items' was APPROVED.
Reason: To clarify the Laws in various respects and to outlaw the 'Cameroon' one piece suit.
The Law 4 change will now read:
Basic Equipment.
The basic compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items.
· a jersey or shirt
· shorts - if thermal undershorts are worn, they are of the same main colour as the shorts
· stockings
· shinguards
· footwear
Law 10 - The Method of Scoring
The FIFA proposal to add the words 'or home-and-away tie' was APPROVED.
Reason: This adds into Law, the current custom and practice for deciding matches.
The Law 10 change will now read:
Competition Rules.
When competition rules require there to be a winning team after a match or home-and-away tie has been drawn, only the following procedures, which have been approved by the International F.A. Board, are permitted:
· Away goals rule;
· Extra time;
· Kicks from the penalty mark.
Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct
This FIFA proposal was in three parts. All three parts were APPROVED.
The first part adds the words 'or throw-in', into the cautionable offences.
Reason: To cover the Law change introduced last season on the 2m minimum distance that opponents must be at the taking of the throw in.
The first part of the Law 12 change will now read:
Cautionable Offences.
A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offences:
1. is guilty of unsporting behaviour.
2. shows dissent by word or action.
3. persistently infringes the Laws of the Game.
4. delays the restart of play.
5. fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, or free kick or throw-in.
6. enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee's permission.
7. deliberately leaves the field of play without the referee's permission.
The second part of the Law 12 change was to make a clear distinction between a PLAYER, SUBSTITUTE PLAYER and SUBSTITUTED PLAYER.
Reason: At the moment, the Law only talks about players. Cautionable Offences have now been split between the seven a PLAYER can commit and three that a SUBSTITUTE PLAYER or SUBSTITUTED PLAYER can commit.
The second part of the Law 12 change will add the following text beneath the current seven Cautionable Offences for players.
A substitute or substituted player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following three offences:
1. is guilty of unsporting behaviour.
2. shows dissent by word or action.
3. delays the restart of play.
The third part of the Law 12 change, adds in the words 'substitute or substituted player' into the first sentence describing the Sending-Off Offences.
Reason: Sending-off offences can be committed by any of the three categories of participant; i.e. players, substitutes or substituted players.
The third part of the Law 12 change will now read:
Sending-Off Offences.
A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offences:….
Law 14 - The Penalty Kick
This FIFA proposal was in two parts. Both parts were APPROVED.
The first part involves adding the words 'from the place where the infringement occurred' which gives the referee clear guidelines as to where the free kick should be taken from.
Reason: Previously, the wording had said the 'referee restarts the match with an indirect free kick' but no guidelines as to 'where from'.
The second part adds the words 'infringes the Laws of the Game'
Reason: Previously there were a number of specific scenarios that the referee took into consideration when deciding whether an infringement had occurred, i.e. players entering the penalty area, the ball rebounding off goalkeeper, goalpost, crossbar, or a player playing the ball twice. Now, ANY infringement of specific aspects of the Laws leads the referee into how to restart play.
The Infringements / Sanctions section of Law 14 will now read:
Infringements / Sanctions
If the Referee gives the signal for a penalty kick to be taken and, before the ball is in play, one of the following situations occurs:
The player taking the penalty kick infringes the Laws of the Game:
· the Referee allows the kick to proceed
· if the ball enters the goal, the kick is retaken
· if the ball does not enter the goal, the referee stops play and restarts the match with an indirect free kick, from the place where the infringement occurred, to the defending team.
The goalkeeper infringes the Laws of the Game:
· the Referee allows the kick to proceed
· if the ball enters the goal, a goal is awarded
· If the ball does not enter the goal, the kick is retaken
A team-mate of the player taking the kick infringes the Laws of the Game enters the penalty area or moves in front of or within 9.15 m (10 yds) of the penalty mark :
· the Referee allows the kick to proceed
· if the ball enters the goal, the kick is retaken
· If the ball does not enter the goal, the referee stops play and restarts the match with an indirect free kick, from the place where the infringement occurred, to the defending team
· If the ball rebounds from the goalkeeper, the crossbar or the goalpost and is touched by this player, The Referee stops play and restarts the match with an indirect free kick to the defending team.
A team-mate of the goalkeeper infringes the Laws of the Game enters the penalty area or moves in front of or within 9.15 m (10 yds) of the penalty mark :
· The Referee allows the kick to proceed
· If the ball enters the goal, a goal is awarded
· If the ball does not enter the goal, the kick is retaken
Law 17 - The Corner Kick
This FIFA proposal confirms that the opposition players must be 9.15m (10 yds) from the 'corner arc' until the ball is in play.
Reason: Previously the Law 17 Corner Kick Procedure said that 'opponents must remain at least 9.15m (10 yds) from the ball'. This is now consistent throughout the Law in this aspect.
The Law 17 change will now read:
· opponents remain at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball the corner arc until the ball is in play.
Additional Instructions for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials. *
The IFAB approved the inclusion of an additional bullet point into the 'Additional Instructions for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials' chapter of the Law book, to provide further disciplinary guidance to referees during stoppages of play.
Reason: To give greater focus by deterring players from initiating a confrontation by deliberately touching the ball, rather than leaving it alone and allowing the opponent to restart play quickly.
The heading 'Delaying the restart of play' within the 'Additional Instructions for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials' chapter which states that "Referees must caution players who delay the restart of play by tactics such as………:" will now include the following additional new bullet point.
· provoking a confrontation by deliberately touching the ball after the referee has stopped play.
IFAB ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION AND DECISION that were approved, at the 4 March 2006 meeting are as follows:
Adidas/Cairos Goal-line Technology:
After disappointing results in Peru and Nuremberg, Adidas and Cairos have been given permission by the IFAB to continue with its development. The IFAB would require them to arrange another visit to their test stadium in Nuremberg to evaluate any future improvements.
Requests for tests with a Referee Communication System in UEFA Club and Youth Competitions:
Although The IFAB was unhappy that UEFA had run tests with this system without permission, they did give the go ahead for them to continue. FIFA also stated that they would try to test this at the World Cup 2006 if the system could be modified so that the microphone was a small device that could be positioned on the referee's shirt rather than the 'live performers' one that is used by UEFA which FIFA consider could constitute a danger.
Technical Area
A Scottish FA proposal to give clear guidelines in terms of what constituted advertising within the Technical Area was placed in the hands of the IFAB sub-committee. This was mainly in connection with what was/wasn't allowed on the 'dugout' or 'officials cabin'
Italian Football Federation Goal-Line Technology
The Italians were allowed to make a presentation regarding using cameras for goal-line decisions. After some discussion The International Football Association Board gave permission for tests to be carried out. When the system was ready for testing members of the Board would visit Italy and monitor the progress, as they had done with the Adidas/Cairos tests.
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Amendments 2007
Law Amendments 2007-2008
International Football Association Board (IFAB) Law Changes for Season 2007/2008 (effective from 1 July 2007).
Criteria for goal-line technology tests:
At its meeting in Manchester on 3 March 2007, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the guardians of the Laws of the Game, laid down criteria for all future experiments involving goal-line technology. Any proposed system seeking IFAB approval must meet the following four requirements:
- The technology applies only to goal-line technology;
- The system must be 100% accurate;
- Confirmation of whether or not the whole ball has crossed the line must be instantaneous between the system and the referee;
- The signal is communicated only to the match officials.
The IFAB also received a presentation from adidas/Cairos and the FA Premier League on two different systems. Other items discussed were:
- It was decided that the next IFAB sub-committee meeting would decide on a standard procedure for dealing with injured players.
- The IFAB stressed that any pitch-side monitors must not be visible from the technical areas.
As FIFA had raised the issue of players intentionally using their elbows and had presented guidance to referees ahead of the 2006 FIFA World Cup it was accepted that these guidelines should now be uniformly applied.
Artificial pitches must be green in colour. This will now be integrated into the FIFA Quality Concept.
A protocol for referees' communication systems was established, specifying that the system should only link the match officials, and that communication between the match officials is neither broadcast nor recorded.
- The IFAB also approved amendments to the wording of the Laws of the Game in the following areas:
- There shall be no advertising of any kind on the ground in the technical area.
- Any undergarments must be of the same main colour as the player's kit.
- Players' equipment must not carry any political, religious or personal statements.
A reserve assistant referee may be appointed under competition rules, but he will only be involved if one of the assistant referees is unable to continue.
A player may not celebrate a goal by covering his head or face with a mask or similar item.
Finally, the following issues were discussed under "Any Other Business":
- FIFA's proposal of two additional assistant referees was referred to the IFAB sub-committee for further deliberation.
- The wearing of a hijab is already covered by Law 4, "The Players' Equipment".
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