1991
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.
1992
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.
1993
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 ...
1994
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.
1995
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.
1996
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.
1997
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."
1998
Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct
A tackle from behind which endangers the safety of an
opponent must be sanctioned as serious foul play.
Acts of serious foul play are punishable by a red card.
1999
Law V - The Referee
Amendment to point 3 under "Powers and Duties":
ensures that any ball used meets the requirements of Law 2
Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct
New Decision 6: Any simulating action anywhere on
the field, which is intended to deceive the referee, must be
sanctioned as unsporting behaviour.
The Fourth Official
New wording - 6th point: He has the authority to check the
equipment of substitutes before they enter the field of play. If
their equipment does not comply with the Laws of the Game, he
informs the referee.
New point 7: He has the authority to inform the referee of
irresponsible behaviour by any occupant of the technical area.
At the request of the International Football Association
Board, the national associations are furthermore recommended to
appoint a fourth official to top division matches in competitions
organised by national associations or their leagues.
Other decisions passed by the IFAB
Use of two referees:
IFAB has authorised FIFA to conduct an experiment in which
two referees officiate on the field at the same time. The IFAB
sub-committee will draw up the technical conditions for the
experiment in April and FIFA will then choose the league(s) in
those national associations in which the experiment will be carried
out.
National associations are reminded that no experiment of this
kind may be made in any match without prior written permission from
FIFA.
2000
Law I - The Field of Play
New Decision 4:
(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:
* when the whole of the ball has passed out of the field of
play
* which side is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or
throw-in
* when a player may be penalised for being in an offside
position
* when a substitution is requested
* when misconduct or any other incident has occurred out of
the view of the referee
* 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)
* 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.
Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct
New text:
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
(Rest of text unchanged)
Law XII - Fouls and Misconduct
New text:
Sending-off offences n°6:
• uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or
gestures
Kicks from the Penalty Mark
New bullet points:
• When a team finishes the match with a greater number of
players than their opponents, they shall reduce their numbers to
equate with that of their opponents and inform the referee of the
name and number of each player excluded. The team captain has this
responsibility.
• Before the start of kicks from the penalty mark the referee
shall ensure that only an equal number of players from each team
remain within the centre circle and they shall take the kicks
Fourth Official
Amendments to bullet point:
• The Fourth Official assists the referee at all times. 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.
