The IFAB

Now available for download: the official summary of changes and clarifications to the Laws of the Game 2026/27, effective from 1 July ➡️ English: theifab.com/documents/?doc… ➡️ French: theifab.com/fr/documents/?… ➡️ German: theifab.com/de/documents/?… ➡️ Spanish: theifab.com/es/documents/?… Competitions that begin before 1 July, such as the @FIFAWorldCup, can implement the changes earlier.

A midfielder attempts to pass the ball to an attacker who is in an offside position, a few metres from a defender. The defender, who has noticed the attacker, moves towards the ball and instinctively blocks the pass, so that the ball goes out for a corner kick. What is the correct decision if the attacker did not attempt to play the ball and did not impact the defender’s ability to play it? Find out more: ➡️ bit.ly/OffsidePositio… ➡️ bit.ly/Offside_Offenc… Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

An attacker comes very close to the goalkeeper, who has caught the ball inside their penalty area. While the goalkeeper is releasing the ball to pass it with their hands, the attacker jumps in front of the goalkeeper to block the pass (without making contact with the opponent). Immediately after the ball is thrown, it rebounds off the attacker’s head and goes into the goal. What is the correct decision? ➡️ bit.ly/IndirectFreeKi… ➡️ bit.ly/_Sanctions Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

As long as any part of the ball is over the centre of the penalty mark, it is correctly positioned, and the referee allows the kick to be taken. If this condition is not met (e.g. the ball overhangs the penalty mark, but not the centre of the mark), the #referee instructs the player taking the kick to adjust the ball position before it is kicked. Practical advice: The kicker may slightly change the ball position if this is justified by the ground conditions and permitted by the referee.

The position of the ball for a penalty kick is correct if part of the ball: ➡️ touches the centre of the penalty mark, and/or ➡️ overhangs the centre of the penalty mark (in the air) Law 14 does NOT require the ball to be: ➡️ wholly on the penalty mark ➡️ touching the penalty mark

A defender (Team A) attempts to kick the ball out of the penalty area. The ball deflects off another defender (Team A) and goes to an attacker (Team B), who has been in an offside position since the first defender kicked the ball. The attacker controls the ball and is unfairly challenged (careless tackle) by an opponent inside Team A’s penalty area. What is the correct decision? Find out more: ➡️ bit.ly/Offside_Offenc… ➡️ bit.ly/DirectFreeKick_ ➡️ bit.ly/Penalty_Kick_ ➡️ bit.ly/_Sanctions Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

After the ball touches the ground: ➡️ it is in play ➡️ any player may approach the ball and touch it ➡️ it is not an offence if a team-mate or an opponent touches the ball before the player for whom the ball was dropped ➡️ an opponent may fairly challenge that player for the ball

Until the ball touches the ground: ➡️ it cannot touch the player for whom the ball is dropped (otherwise, the referee drops the ball again) ➡️ all other players must respect the required distance (otherwise, the referee may caution* the offending player(s) and then drops the ball again) *Failing to respect the required distance at a dropped ball is a cautionable offence. In the first instance, the #referee usually asks the player to retreat 4 metres. If the player does not comply, the referee shows a yellow card. This applies to players of both teams.

Until 2019, any number of players were allowed to contest a dropped ball and the #referee could not decide who may contest it or its outcome. In 2019, the procedure was changed so that: ➡️ the ball is dropped for only one player ➡️ all other players of both teams must be 4 m (4.5 yds) from the ball until it is in play (i.e. it touches the ground)

While the player taking the penalty kick is running to the ball, their team-mate touches the penalty area line with the foot before the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper saves the kick and the ball rebounds into the field to the attacking team player who encroached, who then plays the ball and scores. What is the correct decision? ➡️ bit.ly/PenaltyProcedu… ➡️ bit.ly/PenaltyOffence ➡️ bit.ly/FieldMarkings Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

@PVGaia20 Thank you for taking the time to share your ideas with The IFAB. To officially submit a proposal to amend the Laws of the Game you need the approval/support in writing from the national football association of your residence country. Best regards, The IFAB

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct allows a player to be cautioned (yellow card) for verbally distracting an opponent if this is considered by the #referee to be unsporting behaviour. Minor offences can be dealt with a warning, unless they are blatant and/or repeated. For a player to be punished, the referee should be convinced that the verbal distraction unfairly impacted the opponent and interfered with play (which is more likely in youth/grassroots football). ➡️ bit.ly/_Sanctions

@Coventry_RA Yes, the player could be sent off and Law 12 allows for a sending-off for any offence which denies the opposing team an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. Best regards, The IFAB

@TheIFAB A player can also be sent-off if the distraction denies a goal scoring opportunity

@footballxshirts Thank you for your question. The goal is awarded and if the referee has a 'suspicion' that this was deliberate then this should be reported after the match to the appropriate authorities. Best regards, The IFAB

@TheIFAB What if a goalkeeper concedes a goal intentionally? Is there a specific rule about it? Or would he just receive а yellow card for an unsportsmanlike conduct?

An attacker is in an offside position when their team-mate makes a long pass towards them. However, the ball does not reach the attacker, as it is intercepted by a defender. The defender controls the ball with their feet, moves a few metres and touches the ball several times. After that, the attacker, who was in an offside position, runs to the ball, tackles the defender and gains possession without committing a foul. What is the referee’s decision? Find out more: bit.ly/Offside_Offenc… Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

A defender takes a throw-in and throws the ball to their goalkeeper (a team-mate). The goalkeeper controls the ball with their foot outside their penalty area and notices that an attacker is running quickly towards the ball, so the goalkeeper dribbles into the penalty area and then picks the ball up with their hands. What is the correct decision? Find out more: ➡️ bit.ly/IndirectFreeKi… ➡️ bit.ly/DirectFreeKick_ Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

@WolexOlaoye Thank you for your question. A reckless tackle is punished with a yellow card (wherever the offence occurs) and a direct free kick (except where the tackle was committed inside the OFFENDER'S penalty area, in which case a penalty kick is awarded). Best regards, The IFAB

@TheIFAB Does this apply to inside m penalty box

A defender passes the ball under pressure from an attacker, who commits a late, reckless tackle shortly after the ball is played by the defender. The ball remains on the field of play, and the attacker’s team gains possession. What is the correct decision? ➡️ bit.ly/FoulMisconduct_ ➡️ bit.ly/DirectFreeKick_ ➡️ bit.ly/_Sanctions Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

An attacking player scores in the opponents’ goal after the ball has touched their shoulder. What is the correct decision? Find out more: bit.ly/DirectFreeKick_ Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

Examples: 1. At a penalty kick, a defending player shouts when an attacking player is about to kick the ball. This unfair interference distracts the kicker (the kick is missed) ➡️ retake and caution 2. At a throw-in, an opponent shouts at the thrower to distract them ➡️ retake (or indirect free kick if the throw-in has been taken) and caution 3. During play, an attacker who is behind a defender shouts ‘my ball’ to mislead the opponent, who fails to control the ball ➡️ indirect free kick and caution

If a player verbally distracts an opponent: ➡️ at a restart – the restart can be retaken unless advantage is played ➡️ during play – the referee may stop play and award an indirect free kick or allow play to continue (depending on the circumstances/impact) The free kick is taken from the place where the offending player was at the time of the offence.

If a player commits an offence against a ball boy/girl when: ➡️ the ball is out of play – no change to the restart ➡️ the ball is in play – a dropped ball* ➡️ the ball is in play after the player has left the field of play without the referee’s permission – an indirect free kick from the point on the boundary line where the player left In principle, the #referee is not obliged to stop play (immediately) and should consider the following: ➡️ severity of the offence ➡️ current situation on the field ➡️ interference with play *This restart applies to both verbal and physical offences committed inside or outside the field of play (assuming that the offending player was legally off the field e.g. to receive medical treatment, change equipment, etc.).

A free kick or penalty kick can only be awarded for offences committed: ✅ when the ball is in play ✅ against a match official or someone on the team lists (a player, substitute or team official) A ball boy/girl is not named on the team list and is considered an ‘outside agent’.

Any offence by a player against a ball boy/ball girl must result in the appropriate disciplinary sanction: ➡️ warning ➡️ caution (yellow card) for unsporting behaviour ➡️ sending-off (red card) for violent conduct, spitting, or offensive, insulting or abusive language/action(s) The player must be sanctioned even if the offence is committed when the ball is out of play. Example: A player leaves the field of play to take a throw-in and pushes a ball boy to retrieve the ball.