Law XIII - Free-Kick
Taking a free-kick inside one's own penalty-area - the opposing team's players shall be at least ten yards (9.15m) from the ball and shall remain outside the penalty area until the ball has been kicked out of the area.

Law XVI - Goal-Kick
Opponents of the team taking the goal-kick shall remain outside the penalty-area until the ball has been kicked out of the penalty-area.

Law III - Number of Players
A player who has been replaced shall not take any further part in the game. A substitute shall be subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the referee whether called upon to play or not.

Punishment: If a substitute enters the field of play without the authority of the referee, play shall be stopped. The substitute shall be cautioned and removed from the field or sent off according to the circumstances. The game shall be restarted by the referee dropping the ball at the place where it was when play was stopped.

Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct
A player shall be sent off the the field of play, if, in the opinion of the referee, he:

• is guilty of violent conduct or serious foul play
• uses foul or abusive language
• persists in misconduct after having received a caution

Law VI - Linesmen
The linesmen are to indicate:

• when the ball is out of play,
• which side is entitled to a corner-kick, goal-kick or throw-in
• when a substitution is desired

Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct
Introduction of the four-step rule:
...from the moment the ball comes under his (the goalkeeper's) control, he takes more than four steps without releasing the ball into play and - having released it - he touches the ball again before it has been touched or played by another player...

Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct
Modification of the four-step rule:
...from the moment the ball comes under his (the goalkeeper's) control, he takes more than four steps in any direction whilst holding, bouncing or throwing the ball in the air and catching it again, without releasing the ball into play or having released it into play before, during or after the four steps - he touches it again with his hands before it has been touched or played by another player...

Law VIII - The Start of Play
Drop-ball in the goal-area: on that part of the goal area line which runs parallel to the goal-line, at the point nearest to where the ball was in play when play was stopped.

Law XIII - Free-Kick
An indirect free-kick awarded to the attacking team within its opponent's goal area shall be taken from the part of the goal-area line which runs parallel to the goal-line, at the point nearest where the offence was committed.

In various Laws: drop-ball provision in goal-area (cf. 1984) also extended to be consistent.

Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct
Modification of the four-step rule:
...from the moment the ball comes under his (the goalkeeper's) control, he takes more than four steps in any direction whilst holding, bouncing or throwing the ball in the air and catching it again, without releasing the ball into play or having released it into play before, during or after the four steps - he touches it again with his hands before it has been touched or played by another player of the same team outside of the penalty-area, or by a player of the opposing team either inside or outside of the penalty-area.

Law III - Number of Players
The substitution is completed when the substitute enters the field of play, from which moment he becomes a player and the player whom he replaces ceases to be a player.

Law XIV - Penalty-Kick
The player taking the penalty-kick has to be properly identified.

Law VII - Duration of the Game (against time-wasting)
Allowance shall be made in either period for all the time lost through substitution, the transport from the field of injured players, time-wasting and other cause ...the amount of which shall be a matter for the discretion of the referee.

Law XIV - Penalty-Kick
A goal may be scored directly from a penalty-kick. When a penalty-kick is taken in the normal course of play, or when time has been extended at half-time or full-time to allow a penalty-kick to be taken or retaken, a goal shall not be nullified if, before passing between the posts and under the crossbar, the ball touches either or both of the goal-posts, or the crossbar, or the goalkeeper or any combination of these agencies, providing that no other infringement occurred.
(in addition to that several decisions by the Board in case of encroachments)

Law XV - Throw-in
Decision: A throw-in taken from any position other than the point where the ball passed over the touchline shall be considered to have been improperly thrown in.

Law I - Decision:
The goalposts must be of white colour.

Law III - Number of players:
Substitutes may be used under the rules of any official competition under the jurisdiction of FIFA, Confederations or National Associations, ...
...a team shall not be permitted to use more than two substitutes from more than five players...

Law XI - Off-side (being level)
A player is in an off-side position ..., unless

• b) he is not nearer to his opponents goal-line than at least two of his opponents
• ...3. b) if he receives the ball direct from a goal-kick, a corner-kick or a throw-in.

Decision: A player who is level with the second last opponent or with the last two opponents is not in an off-side position.

Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct
Mandatory Instruction of the IFAB ("professional foul")
If, in the opinion of the referee, a player who is moving towards his opponents' goal with an obvious opportunity to score a goal is intentionally and physically impeded by unlawful means, i.e. an offence punishable by a free-kick (or a penalty-kick), thus denying the attacking player's team the aforesaid goal-scoring opportunity, the offending player shall be sent off the field of play for serious foul play in accordance with Law XII (n).

Extension of the above mandatory instruction from 1990 which was made an official IFAB decision)
Decision: If, in the opinion of the referee, a player, other than the goalkeeper within his own penalty-area, denies his opponents a goal, or an obvious goalscoring opportunity, by intentionally handling the ball, he shall be sent off the field of play for serious foul play in accordance with Law XII (n).

Decision regarding when the goalkeeper is in possession of the ball:
...will be considered to be in control of the ball by touching it with any part of his hands or arms. Possession of the ball would include the goalkeeper intentionally parrying the ball, but would not include the circumstances, where, in the opinion of the referee, the ball rebounds accidentally from the goalkeeper, for example after he has made a save.

Law IV
Equipment must be in order.

Law V

• Competence of referee from when he enters the field of play to sanction any player guilty of misconduct or ungentlemanly behaviour.
• send off the field of play and show a red card to any player, who, in his opinion, is guilty of violent conduct, the use of foul or abusive language or who persists in misconduct after having received a caution.

Backpass ruling: Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct
On any occasion when a player deliberately kicks the ball to his own goalkeeper, the goalkeeper is not permitted to touch it with his hands. If, however, the goalkeeper does touch the ball with his hands, he shall be penalised by the award of an indirect free-kick to be taken by the opposing team from the place where the infringement occurred,...

Law XIII
Any free-kick awarded to the defending team within its own goal-area, may be taken from any point within the goal-area.

Law XVI - Goal-kick
To be taken from any point within the goal-area by a player of the defending team.

Law V - Referee
Decision 13: (Technical area) The coach may convey tactical instructions to players during the match.
The coach and other officials, however, must remain within the confines of the technical area where such an area is provided and they must conduct themselves, at all times, in a responsible manner.

Decision 14: (fourth official) In tournaments or competitions where a fourth official is appointed, his roles and duties shall be in accordance with the guidelines approved by the IFAB.

Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct

• further precision of the four-step rule
• further precision of time-wasting tactics

Precision that a player is to be cautioned and shown the yellow card as per the specific provisions. Precision that a player is to be sent off the field and shown the red card, if in the opinion of the referee, he:

• is guilty of violent conduct
• is guilty of serious foul play
• uses foul or abusive language
• is guilty of a second cautionable offence after having received a caution

Decision 18: Subject to the terms of Law XII, a player may pass the ball to his own goalkeeper using his head or chest or knee, etc. If, however, in the opinion of the referee, a player uses a deliberate trick to circumvent article 5 (c) of Law XII, the player will be guilty of ungentlemanly conduct ...

Law I - The Field of Play
For safety reasons, the goals, including those which are portable, must be anchored securely to the ground.

Law III - Number of Players (substitute ruling 2 + 1)
...a team may also use a third substitute provided that he is designated as a substitute goalkeeper, who may be used to replace only the goalkeeper.
If, however, the goalkeeper is ordered off, the designated substitute goalkeeper may subsequently replace another player of the same team and play as goalkeeper.

Law III - Number of Players (three substitutes without restriction)
Up to a maximum of three substitutes may be used in any match played in an official competition ..

Law VII - Duration of the Game
The half-time interval shall not exceed 15 minutes.

Law XI Off-side
It is not an offence in itself to be in an off-side position.
A player shall only be penalised for being in an off-side position, if, at the moment the ball touches, or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in active play by:

1. interfering with play, or
2. interfering with an opponent, or
3. gaining an advantage by being in that position.

Laws XII - re-editing of offences
Decisions 6, 7, 10 and 13 to punish various offences

Law XIV - Penalty-kick
A penalty-kick shall be taken from the penalty-mark and, when it is being taken, all players with the exception of the player taking the kick, properly identified, and the opposing goalkeeper, shall be within the field of play but outside the penalty-area, at least 10 yards, from the penalty-mark and must stand behind the penalty-mark.

Law II - The Ball
As per requirements of FIFA Denominations as set forth in Decision 4 of the IFAB

Law III - Number of Players
The rules of the competition shall state how many substitutes may be nominated, from three up to a maximum of seven.

Law V - Referees
Decision 7: (advantage clause) If the referee applies the advantage clause and the advantage which was anticipated does not develop at that time, the referee shall penalise the original offence.

Law VI - Assistant Referees (formerly Linesmen)

Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct
provisions regarding offences that are punishable by a direct free-kick and if committed in the penalty-area by a penalty-kick;
dangerous play to be punished by an indirect free-kick.

Law IV - Players' Equipment
Now includes the statement: "If thermal shorts are worn they must be of the same main colour as the shorts."

Law V - The Referees
"Any player bleeding from a wound must leave the field for treatment."

Law VIII - The Start and Restart of Play
"The team which wins the toss shall decide which goal it will attack in the first half of the match. The other team shall take the kick-off."
"A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off."
"The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward."

Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct
An indirect free-kick will be awarded if the goalkeeper handles the ball after receiving it from a throw-in from his own team.

• Unsporting behaviour+ replaces ?ungentlemanly conduct+ as a cautionable offence.
• Failing to respect the required distance at a restart of play+ becomes a cautionable offence.
• Delaying the restart of play+ becomes a cautionable offence.

IFAB decisions 13 and 14, which relate to the prevention of obvious goal scoring opportunities now become Law.

• Using offensive, insulting or abusive language - replaces foul or abusive language.

Binding instruction
The referee has to consider that the goalkeeper is wasting time and therefore has to award an indirect free-kick against him, if he holds the ball for longer than 5 - 6 seconds.

Law XIV - The Penalty Kick
The new text states "The goalkeeper remains on his own goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked". The phrase "without moving his feet" has been deleted.

Players who enter the penalty area before the ball has been kicked need not now be cautioned.

Law XVI - The Goal Kick
"A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick."

Indirect Free Kick (new word order and additional bullet points)

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following five offences:

• takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession
• touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player
• touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a team-mate
• touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate
• wastes time

An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee :

• plays in a dangerous manner
• impedes the progress of an opponent
• prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
• commits any other offence, not previously mentioned in Law 12, for which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player.

(Present Decisions 4 and 5 become Decisions 5 and 6 respectively)

There shall be no advertising of any kind within the technical area or within one metre from the touch line and outside the field of play on the ground.

Further, no advertising shall be allowed in the area between the goal line and the goal nets.

Law III - The Number of Players                               

New text:

Other matches:

In other matches, substitutes may be used provided that

the teams concerned reach an agreement on a maximum number

the referee is informed before the match

If the referee is not informed, or if no agreement is reached before the start of the match, no more than three substitutes are allowed.

Law III – The Number of Players

New Decision 2:

The coach may convey tactical instructions to the players during the match and he must return to his position immediately after giving these instructions. He and the other officials must remain within the confines of the technical area, where such an area is provided, and they must behave in a responsible manner.

Law VI – The Assistant Referees                             

New text:

Duties:

Two assistant referees are appointed whose duties, subject to the decision of the referee, are to indicate:

1. when the whole of the ball has passed out of the field of play
2. which side is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or throw-in
3. when a player may be penalised for being in an offside position
4. when a substitution is requested
5. when misconduct or any other incident has occurred out of the view of the referee
6. when offences have been committed whenever the assistants are closer to the action than the referee (this includes, in particular circumstances, offences committed in the penalty area)
7. whether, at penalty kicks, the goalkeeper has moved forward before the ball has been kicked and if the ball has crossed the line
   

Assistance:

The assistant referees also assist the referee to control the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game. In particular, they may enter the field of play to help control the 9.15m distance.

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits   the following offence:

Fourth Official       (Amendments to bullet point)

The 115th Annual Meeting of the International Football Association Board was held in Edinburgh, Scotland on 1Oth March 2001. The amendments to the Laws of the Game and various instructions and directives are listed below.

1. AMENDMENTS TO THE LAWS OF THE GAME

NOTES ON THE LAWS OF THE GAME

New text:

Modifications

Subject to the agreement of the nationals associations concerned and provided the principles of these Laws are maintained, the Laws may be modified in their application for matches for players of under 16 years of age, for women footballers, for veteran footballers (over 35 years) and for players with disabilities.

Reason: This change recognises the large number of players with disabilities who play football and permits appropriate modifications to the Laws to enable them to take part in officially organised competitions.

LAW 3 - THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS

New text:

Decisions of the International FA Board

Decision 2

A team official may convey tactical instructions to the players during the match and must return to his position after doing so. All team officials must remain within the confines of the technical area, where such an area is provided and they must behave in a responsible manner.

Reason:

The new text recognises that tactical instructions may be given by different team officials during the match provided the person returns to his or her position after giving these instructions and behaves in a responsible manner. The statement that the team official must return immediately to his or her position has been removed.

LAW 12 - FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

New text:

Indirect free kick

Delete bullet point 5

- Wastes time

Decisions of the International FA Board

Decision 3

Delete the final paragraph:

The goalkeeper is considered to be guilty of time-wasting if he holds the ball in his hands or arms for more than 5-6 seconds.

Reason:

Both texts are no longer necessary because of the alteration to Law 12 in 2000 which stated that a goalkeeper is permitted to control the ball with his hands or arms for up to six seconds

Disciplinary Sanctions

New text:

Only a player or substitute or substituted player may be shown the red or yellow card.

Reason:

This clarifies the use of red and yellow cards

Sending Off Offences

To be added after Sending Off Offence No.7

A player who has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area.

Reason:

This clarifies the situation for players who have been sent off.

Decisions of the International FA Board

Decision 1

Delete. The decisions 2 to 6 became decisions 1 to 5 respectively.

Reason:

This confirms the sanction to be taken as stated in the Question and Answers Book on the laws of the Game, when an object is thrown at an opponent from a distance.

KICKS FROM THE PENALTY MARK

New title:

PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE THE WINNER OF A MATCH

The Golden Goal and taking kicks from the penalty mark are methods of determining the winning team where competition rules require there to be a winning team after a match has been drawn.

The Golden Goal

Procedure

- During the period of extra time played at the end of normal playing time, the team which scores the first goal is declared the winner

- If no goals are scored the match is decided by kicks from the penalty mark

Kicks from the Penalty Mark

Procedure

Text remains unchanged

Reason:

To formally recognise the approval by the International F.A. Board of the Golden Goal as one of the possible procedures to determine the winner of the match.

2. INFORMATION, INSTRUCTIONS AND DIRECTIVES

Holding and Pulling

The International FA Board expresses its concern at the amount of holding and pulling which was prevalent in football today. It recognised that not every instance of holding and pulling of jerseys and shorts was unsporting behaviour, as is also the case with deliberate handball. It expressed regret, however, that referees were not applying the Laws fully in dealing with blatant cases of holding and pulling and issued the following Mandatory Instruction:

Referees are instructed that, in the case of blatant holding and pulling, the offence must be sanctioned by a direct free kick, or a penalty kick if the offence is committed inside the penalty area, and the player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.

Treatment of Injured Players

The Board considered the problems caused by injuries to players. It was of the opinion that referees should allow players to return to the field of play as soon as possible after they have recovered from injury. In this respect, and in the case of players returning from treatment for a bleeding injury, referees may be assisted by the fourth official, where one has been appointed to the match.
The Board also expressed its concern at the loss of playing time caused by the assessment of injuries to players and their removal from the field of play. The safety of the players must always be the main priority, however referees are instructed to add the full amount of time lost for these and any other reasons at the end of each period of play.

3. EXPERIMENTS TO THE LAWS OF THE GAME

Two Referees

The Board having monitored the experiment of using two referees in a number of federations, decided to end the experiment.

9.15 metre Advancement

The Board received reports from the Football Association and from the Scottish Football Association about the experiment of advancing play by 9.15 metres towards the centre of the opposing goal where a player failed to respect the required distance, delayed the restart off play by carrying, throwing or kicking the ball away, showed dissent by word or action or indulged in any other form of unsporting behaviour.

It agreed that the experiment should continue for another year with an amendment to the current experiment to cease the advancement of play at the penalty area line.

Advertising

The board noted with concern that its decisions taken on 4 March 1995 prohibiting advertising and club logos on goal nets and corner flags, was not being respected. Such advertising or publicity is not permitted in the Laws of the Game and FIFA was asked to take action against clubs which do not respect these instructions.

Celebration of a goal

The Board recognised that the celebration of a goal was an important and emotional part of football and relaxed the earlier statement in FIFA Circular 579 of 23 January 1996 that any player removing the jersey while celebrating a goal should be cautioned. Players will no longer be cautioned if they remove their shirt but they will be cautioned for unsporting behaviour if their celebrations are provocative and intended to incite or ridicule opponents or opposing spectators. Players guilty of excessive time-wasting while celebrating a goal will also be cautioned.

Players wearing spectacles

Sympathy was expressed for players, especially young players, who need to wear spectacles. It was accepted that new technology had made sports spectacles much safer, both for the player himself and for other players.
While the referee has the final decision on the safety of players’ equipment, the Board expects that they will take full account of modern technology and the improved safety features of spectacle design when making their decision.

Artificial Surfaces

The Board was pleased to note the major developments taking place in artificial playing surfaces and the introduction of the FIFA Quality Concept for Artificial Turf. FIFA stated that there was a great interest in the introduction of these surfaces both for climatic reasons and for use in enclosed all seated stadia.
Artificial surfaces are already permitted for qualifying matches in the 2002 FIFA World Cup and Olympic Football Tournaments.

Circular no.847

Zurich, 12 May 2003

GS/hus/mjo

Amendments to the 2003 Laws at the Game

 Dear Sir or Madam,

The 117th Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board took place In Belfast, Northern Ireland on 15^th March 2003. The amendments to the Laws of the Game made at the meeting and the various Instructions and directives are listed below.

Decision of International F.A. Board

Decision I

• Players must not reveal undershirts which contain slogans or advertising.
  A player removing his jersey to reveal slogans or advertising will be sanctioned by the competition organiser.

• jerseys must have sleeves.

New Text

Bullet point 1

The fourth official may be appointed under the competition rules and officiates if any of the three match officials is unable to continue. He assists the referee at all times.

Bullet point 7

He must indicate to the referee when the wrong player is cautioned because of mistaken identity or when a player is not sent off having been seen to be given a second caution or when violent conduct occurs out of the view of the referee and assistant referees. The referee, however, retains the authority to decide on all points connected with play.

Reason:
By stating in bullet point 7 that "the fourth official assists the referee at all times," there is an inference that this could be in respect of matters of misconduct, the topic of the remainder of the paragraph. It is not expected or desired that the fourth official should be extending his role to include reporting cautionable offences and therefore for reasons of clarity and interpretation it is more appropriate to have the phrase in bullet point 1.

New Text

The referee tosses a coin and the team whose captain wins the toss decides whether to take the first or the second kick.

Reason:
To give the team who wins the toss a fair choice and not to insist that they take the first kick, which can be perceived as an advantage to the team which loses the toss.

The Penalty Kick

It is an infringement to enter the penalty area before the kick has been taken. The goalkeeper also infringes the Laws if he moves from his goal-line before the ball has been kicked. Referees must ensure that when players infringe this Law appropriate action is taken.

Reason:
Law 14 was amended in 1997, taking away the necessity for referees to caution when player(s) entered the penalty area prior to a penalty kick being taken. The amendment also allowed the goalkeeper to move along his goal line. Nowadays, infringements often occur at a penalty kick, yet the referee seldom takes action.

Rules of the International Football Association Board

The Board shall meet bi-annually. The Annual General Meeting shall take place in the month of February or March, as agreed. The Annual Business Meeting shall take place in the month of September or October, as agreed.

TEMPORARY EXPULSIONS

The Board re-affirmed the decision taken at its last meeting that the temporary expulsion of players is not permitted at any level of football.

ARTIFICIAL SURFACES

The Board recognised the advances in artificial surface technology and the major benefits of using artificial surfaces in areas with climatic problems. It also recognised that artificial surfaces allowed multiple and extended use of facilities in urban environments. The Board mandated FIFA to create clear procedures for the use of artificial surfaces, to unify the quality system and apply it worldwide, taking into consideration the best resources and knowledge available.

The amendments to the Laws of the Game take effect as from 1^st July 2003 and instructions and directives are introduced with immediate effect.

Yours faithfully,

FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE

DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

cc:       FIGFA Executive Committee
            FIFA Referees' Committee
            FIFA Referees and Assistant Referees
            FIFA Referee instructors
            Confederations

28 February 2004 - At its 118th Annual General Meeting in London on 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.

- 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.

FIFA Communications Division

London/Zurich, 28 February 2004