FIFA A Laws of the Game 2012/2013 FIFA For the Game.For the World
Laws of the Game 2012/2013
2 FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION President: Joseph S.Blatter (Switzerland) Secretary General:Jerome Valcke(France) Address: FIFA-Strasse 20 P.O.Box 8044 Zurich Switzerland Telephone: +41(0)432227777 Telefax: +41(0)432227878 Internet: www.FIFA.com INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BOARD (IFAB) Members: The Football Association The Scottish Football Association The Football Association of Wales Irish Football Association (1 vote each) Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) (4 votes) Next meeting of the International Football Association Board: Scotland,1-3 March 2013
2 FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION President: Joseph S. Blatter (Switzerland) Secretary General: Jérôme Valcke (France) Address: FIFA-Strasse 20 P.O. Box 8044 Zurich Switzerland Telephone: +41 (0)43 222 7777 Telefax: +41 (0)43 222 7878 Internet: www.FIFA.com INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BOARD (IFAB) Members: The Football Association The Scottish Football Association The Football Association of Wales Irish Football Association (1 vote each) Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) (4 votes) Next meeting of the International Football Association Board: Scotland, 1-3 March 2013
3 NOTES ON THE LAWS OF THE GAME Modifications Subject to the agreement of the member association concerned and provided the principles of these Laws are maintained,the Laws may be modified in their application for matches for players of under 16 years of age,for women footballers,for veteran footballers (over 35 years of age)and for players with disabilities. Any or all of the following modifications are permissible: size of the field of play size,weight and material of the ball width between the goalposts and height of the crossbar from the ground duration of the periods of play substitutions Further modifications are only allowed with the consent of the International Football Association Board. Male and Female References to the male gender in the Laws of the Game in respect of referees, assistant referees,players and officials are for simplification and apply to both men and women. Official languages On behalf of the International Football Association Board,FIFA publishes the Laws of the Game in English,French,German and Spanish.If there is any divergence in the wording,the English text is authoritative Key A single line in the left-hand margin indicates new Law changes
3 NOTES ON THE LAWS OF THE GAME Modifi cations Subject to the agreement of the member association concerned and provided the principles of these Laws are maintained, the Laws may be modifi ed in their application for matches for players of under 16 years of age, for women footballers, for veteran footballers (over 35 years of age) and for players with disabilities. Any or all of the following modifi cations are permissible: • size of the fi eld of play • size, weight and material of the ball • width between the goalposts and height of the crossbar from the ground • duration of the periods of play • substitutions Further modifi cations are only allowed with the consent of the International Football Association Board. Male and Female References to the male gender in the Laws of the Game in respect of referees, assistant referees, players and offi cials are for simplifi cation and apply to both men and women. Offi cial languages On behalf of the International Football Association Board, FIFA publishes the Laws of the Game in English, French, German and Spanish. If there is any divergence in the wording, the English text is authoritative. Key A single line in the left-hand margin indicates new Law changes
CONTENTS Page Law 6 1-The Field of Play 15 2-The Ball 17 3-The Number of Players 21 4-The Players'Equipment 24 5-The Referee 28 6-The Assistant Referees 29 7-The Duration of the Match 30 8-The Start and Restart of Play 33 9-The Ball in and Out of Play 34 10-The Method of Scoring 35 11-Offside 36 12-Fouls and Misconduct 40 13-Free Kicks 44 14-The Penalty Kick 48 15-The Throw-in 50 16-The Goal Kick 52 17-The Corner Kick 54 Procedures to Determine the Winner of a Match or Home-and-Away 56 The Technical Area 57 The Fourth Official and the Reserve Assistant Referee 59 Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees 134 Rules of the International Football Association Board
CONTENTS 5 Page Law 6 1 – The Field of Play 15 2 – The Ball 17 3 – The Number of Players 21 4 – The Players’ Equipment 24 5 – The Referee 28 6 – The Assistant Referees 29 7 – The Duration of the Match 30 8 – The Start and Restart of Play 33 9 – The Ball In and Out of Play 34 10 – The Method of Scoring 35 11 – Offside 36 12 – Fouls and Misconduct 40 13 – Free Kicks 44 14 – The Penalty Kick 48 15 – The Throw-in 50 16 – The Goal Kick 52 17 – The Corner Kick 54 Procedures to Determine the Winner of a Match or Home-and-Away 56 The Technical Area 57 The Fourth Offi cial and the Reserve Assistant Referee 59 Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees 134 Rules of the International Football Association Board
6 LAW 1-THE FIELD OF PLAY Field surface Matches may be played on natural or artificial surfaces,according to the rules of the competition. The colour of artificial surfaces must be green. Where artificial surfaces are used in either competition matches between representative teams of member associations affiliated to FIFA or international club competition matches,the surface must meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf or the International Artificial Turf Standard, unless special dispensation is given by FIFA. Field markings The field of play must be rectangular and marked with lines.These lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries. The two longer boundary lines are called touch lines.The two shorter lines are called goal lines. The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line,which joins the midpoints of the two touch lines. The centre mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line.A circle with a radius of 9.15 m(10 yds)is marked around it. Marks may be made off the field of play,9.15 m(10 yds)from the corner arc and at right angles to the goal lines and the touch lines,to ensure that defending players retreat this distance when a corner kick is being taken
6 LAW 1 – THE FIELD OF PLAY Field surface Matches may be played on natural or artifi cial surfaces, according to the rules of the competition. The colour of artifi cial surfaces must be green. Where artifi cial surfaces are used in either competition matches between representative teams of member associations affi liated to FIFA or international club competition matches, the surface must meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf or the International Artifi cial Turf Standard, unless special dispensation is given by FIFA. Field markings The fi eld of play must be rectangular and marked with lines. These lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries. The two longer boundary lines are called touch lines. The two shorter lines are called goal lines. The fi eld of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line, which joins the midpoints of the two touch lines. The centre mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line. A circle with a radius of 9.15 m (10 yds) is marked around it. Marks may be made off the fi eld of play, 9.15 m (10 yds) from the corner arc and at right angles to the goal lines and the touch lines, to ensure that defending players retreat this distance when a corner kick is being taken