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Law Changes 2006/2007

The latest Law changes can be seen below:

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Dopey Ref Gives his Orders Referee Cartoon by Julian Carosi.

INFORMATION ON THE AMENDMENTS TO THE LAWS OF THE GAME AND INSTRUCTIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL F.A. BOARD 2006/2007
For the attention of players, referees, coaches, officials and all interested in Association Football

Attention is drawn to the following:

1. At its annual meeting this year, the International Football Association Board made a small number of amendments to the Laws of the Game and the decisions thereon. All concerned with the game are urged to ensure that they obtain a copy of the revised "Laws of Association Football - Guide for Players and Referees, 2006-2007", containing full details.

In accordance with earlier practice, the contents of the relevant FIFA Circular (No1033, issued 25th April 2006), with the amendments, are printed in this Information Booklet.

All amendments and decisions must be enforced from 1 July 2006. 

2. Players are reminded again that they should ensure that they do not wear anything that is dangerous to themselves or other players (including any kind of jewellery'). Taping up of rings is only permitted if this renders them entirely safe. There is growing evidence of players being injured by opponents' studs and blades on footwear. Referees have been instructed to carry out inspections prior to every match in order to reduce this danger.

3. Players and referees are reminded that racist remarks constitute a dismissal offence in accord with Law 12 (the use of offensive, insulting or abusive language) and must be punished accordingly.

4. Players, managers, coaches, referees and administrators all have a responsibility to ensure that the image of the national game is not tarnished either by the use, or the acceptance, of offensive language likely to incite, insult or provoke others. The FA is committed to eliminating the use of offensive language towards match officials.

5. The image of the game can be improved by increasing the respect shown towards referees' decisions and by removing practices such as simulation. The FA Disciplinary Committee will use its new procedures to support these principles.

6. Players bleeding from wounds have always been required to leave the field of play until the bleeding has stopped. Players are not allowed to wear blood stained clothing, as this constitutes continuing danger to participants.

7. The FA is concerned over the increasing practice of players surrounding referees to challenge decisions. This brings the game into disrepute. The cooperation of all stakeholders is encouraged to challenge this indiscipline.

8. Finally, a reminder is given that it is a decision of the Council of The Football Association that instructions regarding the Laws of the Game will be given only by The Football Association. No other Association or League is permitted to do so. 

Brian Barwick
Chief Executive
May 2006

TO THE MEMBERS OF FIFA

Circular no. 1033

Zurich, 25 April 2006
GS/sde

Amendments to the Laws of the Game - 2006

The 2006 Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) took place in Lucerne, Switzerland on 04 March 2006. The amendments to the Laws of the Game made at the meeting and the various instructions and directives are listed below.

1. - AMENDMENTS TO THE LAWS OF THE GAME AND DECISIONS OF THE BOARD

Law 4 - The Players' Equipment

Basic Equipment 

Present Text

The basic compulsory equipment of a player is:

  • a jersey or shirt;
  • shorts - if thermal undershorts are worn, they are of the same main colour as the shorts;
  • stockings;
  • shinguards;
  • footwear
 New Text

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

Reason

Adding"... the following separate items:" ensures that the basic equipment must consist of individual garments and therefore a player's jersey and shorts may not be joined together in any way.

Law 10 - The Method of Scoring

Competition Rules

Present Text

When competition rules require there to be a winning team after a match 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

 

 New Text

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

Cautionable Offences

Present Text

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
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

 

 New Text

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, 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

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

 

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct

Sending-Off Offence

Present Text

A player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

1. is guilty of serious foul play
2. is guilty of violent conduct
3. spits at an opponent or any other person
4. 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)
5. denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the players goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
6. uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
7. receives a second caution in the same match

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

 New text

A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off and shown the red card if he commits any of the following seven offences:

1. is guilty of serious foul play
2. is guilty of violent conduct
3. spits at an opponent or any other person
4. 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)
5. 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
6. uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
7. receives a second caution in the same match

A player, substitute or substituted player who has been sent off and shown the red card must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area

Law14 - The Penalty Kick

Infringements/Sanctions

Present Text

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 to the defending team

Reason

To be consistent with the other infringements.

Present Text

A team-mate of the player taking the kick 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 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.

Reason

To be consistent with the other infringements.

Bullet point 4 covered by bullet point 3

 New Text

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, to the defending team, from the place where the infringement occurred

 


New Text

A team-mate of the player taking the 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, to the defending team, from the place where the infringement occurred
Present Text

A team-mate of the goalkeeper enters the penalty area or moves in front of or within 9.15 m (10yds) 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

Reason

To be consistent with the other infringements.

New Text

A team-mate of 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

Law 17 - The Corner Kick

Procedure

Bullet point three

Present Text
  • opponents remain at least 9.15 m (10yds) from the ball until it is in play

Reason

To be consistent with Law 1.

 New text
  • opponents remain at least 9.15 m (10yds) from the corner arc until the ball is in play

2. ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR REFEREES, ASSISTANT REFEREES AND FOURTH OFFICIALS

Delaying the restart of play

New bullet point 6

Present Text

Referees must caution players who delay the restart of play by tactics such as:

  • taking a free kick from the wrong position with the sole intention of forcing the referee to order a retake
  • appearing to take a throw-in but suddenly leaving it to one of his teammates to throw-in
  • kicking the ball away or carrying it away with the hands after the referee has stopped play
  • excessively delaying the taking of a throw-in or free kick
  • delaying leaving the field when being substituted
 New text

Referees must caution players who delay the restart of play by tactics such as:

  • taking a free kick from the wrong position with the sole intention of forcing the referee to order a retake
  • appearing to take a throw-in but suddenly leaving it to one of his teammates to throw-in
  • kicking the ball away or carrying it away with the hands after the referee has stopped play
  • excessively delaying the taking of a throw-in or free kick
  • delaying leaving the field when being substituted
  • provoking a confrontation by deliberately touching the ball after the referee has stopped play

The IFAB agreed that the amendments made to the Laws of the Game should enter into force prior to the 2006 FIFA World Cup on 1st June, instead of on 1st July 2006. The instructions and directives are introduced with immediate effect.

Yours faithfully,

FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE
DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Urs Linsi
General Secretary

cc:  FIFA Executive Committee
FIFA Referees' Committee
Confederations

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