IFAB 2019/2020CHANGES AND CLARIFICATIONS

REMINDERS:

Captains have a degree of responsibility for the behavior of their team. They are expected to help calm, positively influence the behavior of their players especially in controversial/confrontational situations involving opponents and match officials.

Players must respect all decisions made by the referee and other match officials.Respect for the Laws of the Game and the match officials who apply the laws is paramount to the fairness and image of football.Law 3. The players.Substitutions procedure.The player being substituted receives the referee’s permission to leave the field of play unless already off. Such players must leave by the nearest point on the boundary line unless the referee indicates that the player may leave directly and immediately at the half way line or other point for safety, security or injury. The substituted player must immediately go to the technical area or dressing room. The player may not further participate in the match unless except where returning substitutions are permitted.NOTE: If the player who is to be substituted refuses to leave play continues.

Law 5. Decision of the refereeA referee may not change a RESTART decision on realizing it is incorrect or on the advice of another match official IF PLAY IS RESTARTED and the referee has singled the end of the first or second half, INCLUDING OVERTIME, and left the field of play or ABANDONED the match.If at the end of the half the referee goes to the review area ( RRA) or tell the players to return to the field, a review and a decision can be changed IF THE OFFENCE OCCURRED BEFORE THE HALF ENDED.Sometime a match official indicates/communicates a YC/RC but the referee does not see it until after play has restarted. The referee can STILL take the appropriate disciplinary action but the restart associated with the offence does not apply.Power and duties.The referee takes action against team official who fail to act in a responsible manner and warns or shows a YELLOW CARD for a cation or a RED CARD for a sending off from the field of play and its immediate surrounds including the technical area. IF THE OFFENDER CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED THE SENIOR COACH ( HEAD COACH ) WILL RECEIVE THE SANCTION.Note: a MEDICAL team official who commits a sending-off offence may remain.An INJURED PLAYER may not be treated on the field of play, EXCEPT WHEN A PENALTY KICK has been awarded and the injured player is a kicker.

Reminder: if a player is injured as a result of a physical offence for which the opponent is CAUTION or SENT-OFF and the treatment is completed QUICKLY such a player DOES NOT have to leave the field.Law 7. DRINKS breaks are allowed, but they may not exceed 1(0ne) minute.IN THE INTEREST OF PLAYER SAFETY, in certain weather conditions ( high humidity/high temperatures ) the rules of Competition may allow cooling periods NOT to exceed 3(Three) minutes.Law 8. The start and restart of play.Kick- off. The team that wins the coin toss decide which goal to attack in the first half or to take the kick-off. If the team that wins the coin toss chooses which goal to attack in the first half, it will take the kick-off in the second half.DROP-BALL. The “ DROP BALL “ is no longer competitive.

a. If at the time the play is stopped the ball was in the penalty area the ball is essentially dropped for the defending team Goalkeeper.

b. If the LAST TOUCH of the ball took place when the ball was in the penalty area it is dropped for the defending team goalkeeper.

c. If at the time the play was stopped the ball was OUTSIDE the penalty area, the referee drops the ball FOR ONE PLAYER of the team that had the ball at the time play was stopped, at the position where the ball was when play was stopped and touched by the last player, an outside agent or a match official as OUTLINED in Law 9.

d. ALL OTHER PLAYERS, with the exception of the player in front of whom the ball will be dropped, MUST REMAIN 4.5 FEET FROM WHERE THE BALL WILL BE DROPPED.

e. The ball is in play when it touches the ground.

Law 9. Ball in and out of play.a. If the ball touches the referee or Other Official and

goes into the net the goal is NOT ALLOWED.b. If the ball touches the referee or other official,

REMAINS ON THE FIELD and causes a CHANGE in possession or a start of a promising attack play is stopped.

IN BOTH CASES PLAY IS RESTARTED WITH A DROP BALL.NOTE: with the exception of the 2 situations mentioned above, the ball IS IN PLAY ALL OTHER TIMES it touches a match official and/or rebounds from a goal-post, a cross-bar or corner flag but remains on the field of play.Law 10. Determining the outcome of a match.A goal is scored when the ball enters the net ENTIRELY and NO OFFENCE has been committed by the team scoring the goal.If the goalkeeper THROWS the ball directly into the OPPONENT’s goal and scores, A GOAL KICK IS AWARDED. Law 12. Fouls and misconduct.Direct free kick offences:It is an offence and play is restarted with a direct free kick :a. if players deliberately touch the ball with their hand/arm INCLUDING moving the hand/arm towards the ball.

b. If players GAIN possession/control of the ball after it has touched their hand/arm and then scores in the opponent’s goal.If they create a goal scoring opportunity.c. If they score in the opponent’s goal directly from their hand/arm EVEN IF ACCIDENTAL.It is USUALLY an offence:

a. If players touch the ball with their hand/arm when the hand/arm has made their body UNNATURALY BIGGER.

b. If the hand/arm is above/beyond their shoulder level ( unless the player deliberately plays the ball which then touches their hand/arm)

The above offences apply even id the ball touches a player’s had/arm DIRECTLY from the head or body ( including the foot ) OF ANOTHER PLAYER WHO IS CLOSE.

EXCEPT for the above offences, IT IS NOT USUALLY an offence if the ball touches the player’s hand/arm:

a. DIRECTLY from the players own head or body ( including the foot)

b. DIRECTLY from the head or body ( including the foot) of another player of either team who is close. ( This is at times impossible to avoid}

c. IF THE HAND/ARM IS CLOSE TO THE BODY and DOES NOT make the body unnaturally bigger.

d. WHEN A PLAYER FALLS and the hand/arm is between the body and the ground to SUPPORT the body but not extended LATERALLY OR VERTICALLY away from the body. ( keep in mind that It is natural for a player to put their arm between their body and the ground for support when falling )

NOTE: THE GOALKEEPER has the same restrictions than any other player when handling the ball OUTSIDE the penalty area.

e. IN THEIR PENALTY AREA THE GOAKEEPERS CANNOT handle the ball they have received from a DELIBERATE pass back or throw-in from a teammate nor can they again handle a ball they have released from their possession.

If they do it an IFK ( indirect free kick ) is awarded to their opponent, BUT THERE IS NO DISCIPLINARY ACTION even if the goalkeeper’s action stops a promising attack, denies a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity.NOTE: WHEN THE GOALKEEPER CLEARLY KICKS OR TRY TO KICK THE BALL INTO PLAY THIS ACTION CLEARLY SHOWS NO INTENTION OF HANDLING THE BALL.***SO, IF THE CLEARANCE’S ATTEMPT IS UNSUCCESSFUL THE GOALKEEPER CAN THEN HANDLE THE BALL WITHOUT COMMITTING AN OFFENCE.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION:A player or team official who commits a cautioning or sending – off offence either on or off the field of play is disciplined according to the offence,Only player, substitute, substituted player or TEAM OFFICIALS may be shown the yellow and red card.***So now Red and Yellow cards can be shown to team officials ( See Law 5)***WHERE AN OFFENCE IS COMMITTED BY A TEAM OFFICIAL BUT THE OFFENDER CANNOT BE IDENTIFIED THE SENIOR OR HEAD COACH WILL RECEIVE THE SANCTION.

DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS PROCEDURES.Once the referee has decided to caution or send-off play must not be restarted until the sanction is administered UNLESS the non-offending team takes a quick free kick and the referee has not yet started a YC or RC. Procedure. In this case the sanction is administered at the next stoppage. If the referee has already started the sanction procedure the quick kick is not allowed.For a DOGSO offence the player will be cautioned and NOT sent-off.NOTE: a player, substitute, substituted player denying an opposing team a goal or a goal scoring opportunity by committing a HANDBALL offence must be SENT-OFF.***The word “DELIBERATE” has been eliminated.

DISCIPLINARY ACTION- TEAM OFFICIAL. AMENDED TEST.VERBAL WARNING

a. Entering the field of play in a respectful/non confrontational manner

b. Failing to cooperate with a match official e.g. ignoring an instruction or a request from assistant referee or fourth official.

c. Minor or low level disagreement by word or action with a referee’s decision.

d. Occasional leaving the confines of the coaches’ area without committing another offence.

CAUTION (Y/C) ( repeated offences)

a. Clearly and persistently leaving the confines of their team’s technical area.

b. Delaying the restart of play by their team.c. DELIBERATLY entering the technical area of the

opposing team in a NON confrontational manner.d. DISSENT by word or action INCLUDING throwing,

kicking drinks bottles or other objects. e. GESTURES which show a clear lack of respect for the match official e.g. sarcastically clapping hands. f. GESTURING or ACTING in a PROVOCATIVE or INFLAMMATORY manner. g. PERSISTENT and UNACCEPTABLE behavior e.g. repeated warnings. h. SHOWING a lack of respect for the game.

SENDING-OFF (R/C) (Clearly repeated and BLATANT offences.)

a. Delaying the restart of play by the OPPOSING team by holding onto the Ball, kicking the ball away, obstructing the movement of a player.

b. DELIBERATLY leaving the technical area to show dissent towards or remonstrate with a match official act in a PROVOCATIVE or INFLAMMATORY manner.

c. ENTERING the opposing coach’s technical area in an aggressive or confrontational manner.

d. DELIBERATLY throwing or kicking an object onto the field of play.

e. ENTERING the field of play to confront a match official( including at half time and full-time.) or to interfere with play, an opposing player or match official.

f. GUILTY of aggressive/physical behavior ( including spitting or biting) towards an opposing player, substitute, team official, match official, spectator or any other person e.g. ball girl/boy, security or competition official etc.

g. RECEIVING a second caution in the same match.h. USING offensive, insulting, abusive language or

gestures.i. USING unauthorized electronic or communication

equipment.j. VIOLENT CONDUCT

NOTE: ALL VERBAL OFFENCES EVEN IF DIRECTED AT A MATCH OFFICIAL ARE PENALISED WITH AN INDIRECTED FREE KICK ( IFK )

a. If offences are committed OUTSIDE the field of play by a player against a player or TEAM official of his/her own team, play is restarted with an INDIRECT free kick on the boundary line closest to where the offence occurred.

b. If a player who is ON or OFF the field of play throws or kicks an object, (other the match ball ) at an opposing PLAYER or throws or kicks an object, including a ball, at an opposing substitute, substituted or sent-off player, team official, match official or the match ball, play is restarted with A DIRECT FREE KICK ( DFK)

LAW 13. FREE KICKS.a. The referee indicates an INDIRECT free kick by

raising the arm above the head and keeps it that way till the ball touches another player or goes out of play OR IT IS CLEAR THAT A GOAL CANNOT BE SCORED DIRECTLY.

b. The ball is in play when it is kicked and CEARLY moves. If the ball is kicked from inside the Penalty Area it is in play as soon as it is kicked and moves. THE BALL DOES NOT TO HAVE TO LEAVE THE PENALTY AREA TO BE IN PLAY. However, all opponents must still remain OUTSIDE THE PENALTY AREA or at least 10 yards from the ball till it is in play. Same change has been made for the Goal Kick ( see Law 16.}

c. ON FREE KICKS INSIDE THE PENALTY AREA, all opponents must remain outside the PA or at least 10 yards from the ball till it is in play.

d. IF THERE IS A WALL WITH 3 OR MORE DEFENDING TEAM PLAYERS, all attacking team players MUST REMAIN AT LEAST 1 YARD from the wall till the ball is in play. If the attacking players fail to comply an INDIRECT FREE kick ( IFK ) is awarded to the defending team.

e. If a FREE KICK is taken by the defending team INSIDE its Penalty Area, and any opponent who is INSIDE the PA touches or challenges for the ball BEFORE IT IS IN PLAY THE FREE KICK IS RETAKEN.

f. If AFTER the ball is in play the kicker touches the ball again BEFORE it has touched another player an INDIRECT GREE KICK IS AWARDED.

LAW 14. The Penalty kick.a. When the ball is kicked the defending goal keeper

MUST have at least part of one foot TOUCHING or IN LINE WITH THE GOAL LINE.

b. The goalkeepers ARE NOT PERMITTED TO STAND IN FRONT OR BEHIND THE GOSAL LINE.

c. The player must kick the ball forward. BACKHEELING is permitted PROVIDED the balls moves forward.

d. Once the referee has signaled for a penalty kick to be taken, THE KICK MUST BE TAKEN.

e. If it is not taken the referee may take disciplinary action BEFORE signaling again for the kick to be taken. NO free kick can be awarded, however, because the ball had not be put into play.

f. If the kicker touches the ball again BEFORE has touched another player an INDIRECT free kick or a (DIRECT free kick for a handball) is awarded.

Law 15. Throw-in.All opponents must stand at least 2 yards from the point on touch line where the throw-in is to be taken.The thrower cannot touch the ball again before it has been touched by another player.

Law 16. The goal kick.a. THE BALL IS IN PLAY WHEN HAS BEEN KICKED AND

CLEARLY MOVES.b. If when a goal-kick is taken opponents are still inside

the penalty area because they DID NOT have time to leave, the referee ALLOWS play to continue.

c. If an opponent who is inside the penalty area touches or challenges for the ball BEFORE it is in play, the goal kick is re-taken.

Law 17. The corner kick.Here again the Law was amended to eliminate the word “DELIBERATLY”***So, if after the ball is in play the kicker touches it again an INDIRECT free kick is awarded. If the kicker commits a HANDBALL offense a DIRECT free kick is awarded.

THE CHAPTER ON THE “VAR” HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY OMITTED.

AMEN.

In soccer…….Paul C.