2001
LAW 3 - The Number of Players
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.
LAW 12 - Fouls and Misconduct
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.
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
2002
LAW 4 - The Players' Equipment
• Advertising is permitted only on the players' jerseys. It
may not be worn on
shorts, stockings or footwear.
• 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.
LAW 5 - The Referee
Stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that he is removed from the field of play. An injured player may only return to the field of play after the match has restarted.
LAW 12 - Fouls and Misconduct
Indirect Free-Kick
An indirect free-kick is awarded to the opposing team if a
goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the
following four offences:
2003
LAW 4 - The Players' Equipment
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.
The Board agreed to remove the bullet point which permitted advertising only on players' jerseys.
The Fourth Official
The fourth official may be appointed under the competition
rules and officiates if any ofthe three match officials is unable
to continue . He 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.
Procedures to determine the winner of a match - Kicks from the
Penalty Mark
The referee tosses a coin and the team whose captain wins the
toss decides whether to take the first or the second kick.
Additional Instructions for Referees, Assistant Referees and
Fourth Officials
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.
2004
LAW 1 - The Field of Play
Matches may be played on natural or artificial surfaces, according to the rules of the competition.
Where artificial surfaces are used in either competition matches between representative teams of associations affiliated to FIFA or international club competition matches, the surface must meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Concept for Artificial Turf or the International Artificial Turf Standard, unless special dispensation is given by FIFA.
Where a technical area exists, it must meet the requirements approved by the International FA Board, which are contained in this publication.
LAW 3 - The Number of Players
Other matches
In other matches, up to six substitutes may be used.
LAW 5 - The Referee
International FA Board Decision 2
In tournaments or competitions where a fourth official is
appointed, his role and duties must be in accordance with the
guidelines approved by the International FA Board, which are
contained in this publication.
LAW 7 - The Duration of the Match
Extra Time
Competition rules may provide for two further equal periods
to be played.
The conditions of Law 8 will apply.
LAW 10 - The Method of Scoring
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 FA Board, are permitted.
• Away goals rule
• Extra time
• Kicks from the penalty mark
Only procedures to determine the winner of a match, which are approved by the International FA Board and contained in this publication, are permitted in competition rules.
Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct
A player who removes his jersey when celebrating a goal must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.
Procedures to determine the winner of a game
Away goals, extra time 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.
Away Goals
Competition rules may provide that where teams play each
other home and away, if the scores are equal after the second
match, any goals scored at the ground of the opposing team will
count double.
Extra Time
Competition rules may provide for two further equal periods,
not exceeding 15 minutes each, to be played. The conditions of Law
8 will apply.
2005
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;
• the referee is informed before the match.
If the referee is not informed, or if no agreement is reached before the match, no more than six substitutes are allowed.
LAW 3 - The number of players
Infringements/Sanctions
Play is restarted with an indirect free-kick at the place the
ball was located when play was stopped.
LAW 5 - The Referee
Decisions of the Referee
The referee may only change a decision on realising that it
is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant
referee, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the
match.
LAW 11 - Offside
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.
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 goal 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
Disciplinary sanctions
Only a player or substitute or substituted player may be
shown the red or yellow card.
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.
A tackle, which endangers the safety of an opponent, must be sanctioned as serious foul play.
LAW 14 - The Penalty-Kick
Infringements/Sanctions
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.
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:
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.
LAW 15 - The Throw-In
At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower:
• faces the field of play;
• has part of each foot either on the touch line or on the
ground outside the touch line;
• uses both hands;
• delivers the ball from behind and over his head.
The thrower may not touch the ball again until it has touched
another player .
All opponents must stand no less than 2 metres from the point
at which the throw-in
is taken.
The ball is in play immediately it enters the field of play.
2006
LAW 4 - The Players' Equipment
The basic compulsory equipment of a player comprises the
following separate items:
• a jersey or shirt;
• shorts - if thermal under-shorts are worn, they are of the
same main colour as the shorts;
• stockings;
• shinguards;
• footwear
LAW 10 - The Method of Scoring
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 FA Board,
are permitted:
• Away goals rule
• Extra time
• Kicks from the penalty mark
LAW 12 - Fouls and Misconduct
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, 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 Offences
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
LAW 14 - The Penalty-Kick
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
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, from the place where the
infringement occurred, to the defending team
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
Opponents remain at least 9 .15 m (10 yds) from the corner arc until the ball is in play.
