Football Rules

1. FIELD MARKINGS

   1. Field surface

      Matches may be played on natural or artificial surfaces, according to the rules of the competition.

   2. Dimensions

      The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touch line must be greater than the length of the goal line.
      Length:
      minimum 90 m (100 yds) - maximum 120 m (130 yds)
      Width:
      minimum 45 m (50 yds) - maximum 90 m (100 yds)

   3. International Matches

      
      Length:
      minimum 100 m (110 yds) - maximum 110 m (120 yds)
      Width:
      minimum 64 m (70 yds) - maximum 75 m (80 yds)

   4. The Goal Area

      A goal area is defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 5.5 m (6 yds) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of 5.5 m (6 yds) and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the goal area.

   5. The Penalty Area

      A penalty area is defined at each end of the field as follows:
      Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 16.5 m (18 yds) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of 16.5 m (18 yds) and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the penalty area.
      Within each penalty area, a penalty mark is made 11 m (12 yds) from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them. An arc of a circle with a radius of 9.15 m (10 yds) from each penalty mark is drawn outside the penalty area.

   6. The Corner Arc

      A quarter circle with a radius of 1 m (1 yd) from each corner flagpost is drawn inside the field of play.

      

   7. Goals

      Goals must be placed on the centre of each goal line.
      They consist of two upright posts equidistant from the corner flagposts and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar.
      The distance between the posts is 7.32 m (8 yds) and the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 2.44 m (8 ft).
      Both goalposts and the crossbar have the same width and depth, which do not exceed 12 cm (5 ins). The goal lines are the same width as that of the goalposts and the crossbar. Nets may be attached to the goals and the ground behind the goal, provided that they are properly supported and do not interfere with the goalkeeper.
      The goalposts and crossbars must be white.

      

      
       

      

      

2. THE BALL

   The ball is:

   1. spherical;

   2. made of leather or other suitable material;

   3. of a circumference of not more than 70 cm (28 ins) and not less than 68 cm (27 ins);

   4. not more than 450 g (16 oz) in weight and not less than 410 g (14 oz) at the start of the match;

   5. of a pressure equal to 0.6 – 1.1 atmosphere (600 – 1100 g/cm2) at sea level (8.5 lbs/sq in – 15.6 lbs/sq in).

3. THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS

   1. Players

      A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than eleven players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than seven players.

   2. Official Competitions

      Up to a maximum of three substitutes may be used in any match played in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA, the confederations or the member associations.
      The rules of the competition must state how many substitutes may be nominated, from three up to a maximum of seven.

   3. Changing the Goalkeeper

      Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper, provided that:
      • the referee is informed before the change is made;
      • the change is made during a stoppage in the match.

4. THE PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT

   1. Safety

      A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery).

   2. Basic Equipment

      The basic compulsory equipment of a player is:

      1. a jersey or shirt;

      2. shorts – if thermal undershorts are worn, they are of the same main colour as the shorts;

      3. stockings;

      4. shinguards;

      5. footwear.

       

   3. Goalkeepers

      Each goalkeeper wears colours that distinguish him from the other players, the referee and the assistant referees.

5. THE DURATION OF THE MATCH

   1. Periods of Play

      The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the referee and the two participating teams. Any agreement to alter the periods of play (for example to reduce each half to 40 minutes because of insufficient light) must be made before the start of play and must comply with competition rules.

   2. Half-Time Interval

      Players are entitled to an interval at half-time. The half-time interval must not exceed 15 minutes. Competition rules must state the duration of the half-time interval. The duration of the half-time interval may be altered only with the consent of the referee.

      Allowance for Time Lost

      Allowance is made in either period for all time lost through:

      1. substitution(s);

      2. assessment of injury to players;

      3. removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment;

      4. wasting time;

      5. any other cause.

      The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.

   3. Penalty Kick

      If a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken, the duration of either half is extended until the penalty kick is completed.

6. THE METHOD OF SCORING

   1. Goal Scored

      A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.

   2. Winning Team

      The team scoring the greater number of goals during a match is the winner. If both teams score an equal number of goals, or if no goals are scored, the match is drawn.

   3. Competition Rules

      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.

7. FREE KICKS

   1. Types of Free Kicks

      Free kicks are either direct or indirect.
      For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player.

   2. The Direct Free Kick

      
      • If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal is awarded.
      • If a direct free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.

   3. The Indirect Free Kick

      Signal
      The referee indicates an indirect free kick by raising his arm above his head. He maintains his arm in that position until the kick has been taken and the ball has touched another player or goes out of play.
      Ball Enters the Goal
      A goal can be scored only if the ball subsequently touches another player before it enters the goal.
      • If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded.
      • If an indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.

8. THE PENALTY KICK

   1. The Penalty Kick

      A penalty kick is awarded against a team that commits one of the ten offences for which a direct free kick is awarded, inside its own penalty area and while the ball is in play.
      A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick.
      Additional time is allowed for a penalty kick to be taken at the end of each half or at the end of periods of extra time.

   2. Position of the Ball and the Players

      The ball:
      • is placed on the penalty mark.
      The player taking the penalty kick:
      • is properly identified.
      The defending goalkeeper:
      • remains on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked.
      The players other than the kicker are located:
      • inside the field of play;
      • outside the penalty area;
      • behind the penalty mark;
      • at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the penalty mark

9. THE THROW-IN

   A throw-in is a method of restarting play.
   A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in.
   A throw-in is awarded:
   • when the whole of the ball passes over the touch line, either on the ground or in the air;
   • from the point where it crossed the touch line;
   • to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball

   

   
    

10. THE GOAL KICK

    A goal kick is a method of restarting play.
    A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team.
    A goal kick is awarded when:
    The whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the attacking team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.

11. THE CORNER KICK

    A corner kick is a method of restarting play.
    A goal may be scored directly from a corner kick, but only against the opposing team.
    A corner kick is awarded when:
    • the whole of the ball, having last touched a player of the defending
    team, passes over the goal line, either on the ground or in the air, and a goal is not scored in accordance with Law 10.

    

12. OFFSIDE

    It is not an offence in itself to be in an offside position.
    A player is in an offside position if:
    • he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second last opponent
    A player is not in an offside position if:
    • he is in his own half of the field of play; or
    • he is level with the second last opponent; or
    • he is level with the last two opponents.