New Laws of the Game for 2017-2018

ALL LAWS

• Replace ‘infringement/infringe’ etc. with ‘offence/offend’ etc.

LAW 1 – THE FIELD OF PLAY

• Artificial turf may be used for the lines on a grass field if not dangerous

LAW 3 – THE PLAYERS

• National FAs can allow a maximum of five substitutions (except at the top level)
• National FAs can now allow return substitutions in youth, veterans and disability football
• Clearer wording for the substitution procedure
• A substitution made at half-time without informing referee is not a caution (YC) offence
• Changing the goalkeeper at half-time without informing the referee is not a caution (YC)
• Player who enters the field of play without the referee’s permission (if it is required) and interferes is punished with a direct free kick (FK)
• Team scoring a goal with an extra person on the field is punished with a direct FK

LAW 4 – THE PLAYERS’ EQUIPMENT

• Goalkeeper caps are not included in the list of restrictions on head covers
• Players are not permitted to wear/use any electronic or communication equipment, except electronic performance and tracking systems/EPTS); technical staff may only use communication equipment for safety/welfare issues
• All EPTS equipment must bear a minimum safety standard mark

LAW 5 – THE REFEREE

• Important statement that decisions made by match officials must always be respected
• National FAs can allow temporary dismissals (sin bins) for some/all cautions (YC) in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football (Guidelines for both systems will be published)
• A medical official guilty of a dismissible offence may stay/treat players if no other medical person is available for the team

LAW 7 – THE DURATION OF THE MATCH

• A short drinks break is permitted at half-time of extra time

LAW 8 – THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY

• Kicker can stand in the opponents’ half at the kick-off

LAW 10 – DETERMINING THE OUTCOME OF A MATCH

• Extra time must be two equal periods, maximum 15 minutes each 

KICKS FROM THE PENALTY MARK (KFPM)

• Corrected wording for goalkeeper who is unable to continue
• Excluded player may replace a goalkeeper even if team has used all its permitted substitutes
• Kicker may not play the ball a second time
• A goalkeeper who offends and the penalty has to be retaken must be cautioned (YC)
• If the kicker offends the kick is forfeited (recorded as ‘missed’)
• If the goalkeeper and kicker offend at the same time:
  • retake and two cautions (YCs) if no goal is scored
  • if a goal is scored the kicker is cautioned (YC) and kick recorded as ‘missed’

LAW 11 – OFFSIDE

• An offside player can be penalised if the ball rebounds/deflects off a match official
• Addition of ‘attempts to’ to the definition of a ‘save’
• Offside guidance:
  • player in offside position who impedes an opponent must be penalised
  • player in offside position who is fouled before committing an offside offence – foul penalised
  • player in offside position who is fouled when already committing an offside offence – offside penalised

 LAW 12 – FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

• Verbal offences are punished with an indirect FK
• If an advantage is played for a sending-off (RC) and the player commits another offence, that offence is penalised
• A player ‘stopping a promising attack’ in the penalty area is not cautioned (YC) if the offence was an attempt to play the ball
• Addition to list of cautions (YCs) for a ‘denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity’ (DOGSO) offence in the penalty area which was an attempt to play the ball
• Caution (YC) for goal celebration which causes safety/ security issue
• If player moves diagonally to pass the last defender/goalkeeper this can still be a DOGSO
• Clearer DOGSO wording for a penalty area offence which is an attempt to play the ball
• Entering the field of play without permission and stopping a goal or DOGSO is a sending-off
• Off-field offence by/against a player involving opposing player/substitute/team official (or against a match official) is penalised by FK on the boundary line if the ball is in play
• Direct FK for throwing or kicking ball/object onto the field to interfere with play/someone
• Direct FK on boundary line for throwing or kicking ball/object at someone off the field

LAW 13 – FREE KICKS

• Attacker in or entering the penalty area before a defensive FK has left the area cannot play or challenge for the ball until it has been touched by another player

LAW 14 – THE PENALTY KICK

• Kicker must be clearly identified
• If the goalkeeper and kicker offend at the same time:
  • retake and two cautions (YCs) if no goal is scored
  • if a goal is scored the kicker is cautioned (YC) and kick recorded as ‘missed’ + indirect FK (see Law 10)
• Goal can be awarded after outside interference if the ball still goes in the goal

 LAW 16 – THE GOAL KICK

• Attacker entering the penalty area cannot play or challenge for the ball until it is touched by another player

Download your free PDF copy from CNRA:

• English: 2017/18 IFAB Laws of the Game
• Español: 2017/18 IFAB Reglas de Juego 

Purchase your copy of the IFAB Laws of the Game:

• The IFAB Online Store: http://theifab.com/shop