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.

If the referee: ➡️ blows the whistle in error ➡️ signals a goal before the ball has wholly passed over the goal line play is restarted with a dropped ball (according to the procedure described in Law 8).

When a foul, handball or other offence occurs in/near the offender’s penalty area, the #referee will usually wait to see whether an advantage develops. If the referee whistles to award a free kick or penalty kick, a goal scored after the whistle cannot be awarded as the ball is already out of play when it enters the goal.

The ball is out of play when play has been stopped by the referee. Therefore, a goal cannot be awarded if the #referee whistles before the ball has wholly passed over the goal line. For this reason, when the ball is in (or near) the penalty area, the referee should be very careful when deciding whether to stop play or allow it to continue, as the attacking team may later have an opportunity to score a goal. Once the whistle is blown, play is stopped, so the referee cannot apply advantage, regardless of whether the whistle had any impact on the attacking/defending players.

An attacker is in an offside position when their team-mate takes a shot. The shot deflects off a defender who was close to the ball and goes to the attacker who was onside when the ball deflected off the defender. The attacker controls the ball and scores. What is the decision? ➡️ bit.ly/Offside_Offenc… Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

We are aware that the shipping costs are relatively high. This is due to shipping from Switzerland and the use of DHL Express, which is, however, more reliable than other methods. The book's retail price is kept as low as possible (3.70 CHF), only covering the production costs. Please note that the 2026/27 edition will be ready for download: ➡️ on theifab.com (in PDF format) and ➡️ in our Laws of the Game app for Android and iOS (that is free of charge) Best regards, The IFAB

@TheIFAB Nice to get a print option but ~40 CHF for express only shipping on a 3.70 CHF book? A standard option would go a long way 😅

Now available for pre-order: printed Laws of the Game 2026/27 book, available in English, French, German & Spanish ➡️ bit.ly/Laws2026_27 The new Laws will also become available on theifab.com and in the Laws of the Game app: bit.ly/Laws_App_

@bdllhlr27508343 As mentioned in the post text, printed books are available in English, French, German, and Spanish. The Laws of the Game 2026/27 in Arabic will be published on our website (in PDF format) and in the Laws of the Game mobile app. Best regards, The IFAB

@TheIFAB Where is the Arabic language 🥺

A defender fairly challenges an attacker for the ball, and the #referee allows play to continue because no foul has been committed even though the attacker fell to the ground. The attacker then gets up and deliberately stamps on the opponent’s back in the middle of the field. What is the correct decision if the ball is still in play? Find out more: ➡️ bit.ly/DirectFreeKick_ ➡️ bit.ly/_Sanctions Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

A player in an offside position who does not touch the ball may still be penalised for an offside offence if they interfere with an opponent by: ➡️ preventing them from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing their line of vision (especially the goalkeeper) or ➡️ challenging the opponent for the ball or ➡️ clearly attempting to play a ball which is close when this action impacts the opponent or ➡️ making an obvious action/movement which clearly impacts the opponent’s ability to play the ball

An attacker and a defender chase the ball in the middle of the field of play. The attacker kicks the ball past the defender, who fails to touch the ball and commits a late careless tackle which stops a promising attack. However, another attacker, who was clearly in an offside position when their team-mate kicked the ball, gains possession and runs towards the opponents’ goal. What is the correct decision? Find out more: ➡️ bit.ly/Offside_Offenc… ➡️ bit.ly/DirectFreeKick_ ➡️ bit.ly/_Sanctions Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

@bdllhlr27508343 Please see the attached graphic. Best regards, The IFAB

@TheIFAB A player and a goalkeeper switched positions without the referee's permission during play. The player caught the ball inside the penalty area. What is the decision? please give the answer I'll wait for it.

A player may score a goal against the opposing team directly from: ✅ a kick-off ✅ a direct free kick ✅ a penalty kick ✅ a goal kick ✅ a corner kick A goal may not be scored directly* from: ❌ a dropped ball ❌ an indirect free kick ❌ a throw-in *For a goal to be awarded after these restarts, the ball must touch another player (of either team). If the ball enters the opponents’ goal without touching any other player, the restart is not retaken, and the #referee awards a goal kick to the opposing team.

After the goalkeeper has caught the ball inside their penalty area, an attacker quickly moves into the goalkeeper’s path and deliberately slows down the start of a potential counter-attack. What is the correct decision if the attacker does not touch the goalkeeper or the ball? Find out more: ➡️ bit.ly/IndirectFreeKi… ➡️ bit.ly/_Sanctions Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

A defender recklessly tackles an attacker outside the penalty area and this foul denies the opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. What is the decision if the advantage is not applied? ➡️ bit.ly/Referee_Powers ➡️ bit.ly/DirectFreeKick_ ➡️ bit.ly/_Sanctions Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

While taking a goal kick, a defender attempts to pass the ball to a nearby midfielder but slips and the ball is kicked only a few metres. As an opposing attacker then enters the penalty area and runs towards the ball, the goalkeeper dives and catches it to prevent the opponent from gaining control. What is the referee’s decision? Find out more: bit.ly/IndirectFreeKi… Download the official app: ➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid ➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS

@probaddie 1. Yes 2. Not offside until the whole body (excluding the hands/arms) is in front of the second-last opponent. Best regards, The IFAB

@TheIFAB 1. Suppose a defender is wrongly penalized for SPA handball (not a second caution), but the offence is in fact committed by an attacker. Can the VAR intervene if the attacker would not be cautioned? 2. What is the definition of offside position used in the trial?

The IFAB introduces further measures to improve match flow and player behaviour ➡️ bit.ly/AGM2026_News Watch now on theifab.com: press conference following the 140th Annual General Meeting

@Paulsingh25 No – only the corner kick. Best regards, The IFAB

@TheIFAB Is offside prior to a corner kick reviewable as part of the corner check?