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Joined February 2016
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LAW CHANGES 2026/27
Before the end of the half, a team’s coach decides to replace the goalkeeper with a substitute goalkeeper for tactical reasons. Once the substitution board is shown, the goalkeeper excessively delays the substitution and has not left the field of play within ten seconds.
What is the correct procedure if the goalkeeper being substituted has not been cautioned earlier in the match?
Find out more:
➡️ Time-limited substitution protocol: bit.ly/Ten-second_substituti…
➡️ Circular 34 (July 2026): downloads.theifab.com/downlo…
Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid
➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS
LAW CHANGES 2026/27
A goalkeeper (Team A) and an attacker (Team B) collide while jumping for the ball. Although no foul is committed, the #referee stops play after seeing that both players have fallen to the ground. The goalkeeper is able to continue and does not need medical attention; however, the attacker is seriously injured and requires treatment on the field of play.
What is the correct procedure?
️➡️ bit.ly/Referee_Powers
➡️ bit.ly/Injuries_Treatment
➡️ bit.ly/_Dropped_Ball
Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid
➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS
Except certain circumstances, where an injury results in play being stopped or the restart of play being delayed, the injured player must leave the field of play and may only re-enter:
✅ one minute after play has restarted (running clock)
✅ with the referee’s permission (the signal can be given during play)
The re-entry is:
➡️ from the touchline – if the ball is in play
➡️ from any boundary line (touchline or goal line) – if the ball is out of play
Find out more:
➡️ bit.ly/Referee_Powers
➡️ bit.ly/Injuries_Treatment
If an injured player re-enters the field without permission, the #referee must:
➡️ stop play (not immediately if the player does not interfere with play or a match official or if the advantage can be applied)
➡️ caution (yellow card) the player for re-entering without permission
In addition, the player is usually required to leave the field of play and remain off until the remaining time has been completed and permission to return has been given.
LAW CHANGES 2026/27
A player slips while taking a penalty kick. The ball accidentally touches the player’s non-kicking foot/leg immediately after the kick, and the goalkeeper makes a save (the ball does not enter the goal and rebounds into the field).
What is the decision if the goalkeeper has not committed any offence?
➡️ bit.ly/PenaltyOffence
➡️ bit.ly/PenaltyOutcome
Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid
➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS
LAW CHANGES 2026/27
A defending team player deliberately handles the ball within their penalty area and thus prevents the ball from entering the goal. After that, the ball goes to an attacking team player who scores a goal.
What is the correct decision?
bit.ly/_Sanctions
Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid
➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS
The #referee may apply advantage when a team incorrectly takes a restart if:
✅ the ball is in play and
✅ the opposing team can benefit (e.g. they gain possession)
The main situations where advantage can be played include:
➡️ incorrect position of the restart
➡️ moving ball
➡️ incorrect throw-in, e.g. the player has one/both feet off the ground or fully inside the field of play (not touching the line) at the moment of delivering the ball
The #referee cannot apply the advantage when:
➡️ the wrong team takes the restart
➡️ the ball does not touch the ground at a dropped ball
➡️ the ball touches the ground before entering the field of play at a throw-in
➡️ the ball is not kicked at a ‘kicked’ restart, i.e. it is not played with the foot/ankle
➡️ the ball does not clearly move at a ‘kicked’ restart
In these cases, the restart of play must be retaken.
LAW CHANGES 2026/27
The ball is kicked by a Team A player and is going to a Team B player when it deflects off the #referee to another Team A player rather than to the Team B player. The Team A player immediately creates a promising attack for their team.
What is the decision?
➡️ bit.ly/BallOutOfPlay
➡️ bit.ly/_Dropped_Ball
Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid
➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS
Where a player or substitute is required to remain off the field of play for one minute and the first half ends before one minute has elapsed, they may enter the field of play at the beginning of the second half.
This principle also applies to:
➡️ the period between the end of normal time and the start of extra time
➡️ half-time in extra time
➡️ the period between the end of extra time and penalties (penalty shoot-out)
Find out more:
Off-field treatment and assessment protocol: bit.ly/Injuries_Treatment
Time-limited substitution protocol: bit.ly/Ten-second_substituti…
LAW CHANGES 2026/27
During penalties (penalty shoot-out), a player slips while taking a kick. The ball accidentally touches the player’s non-kicking foot/leg at the same time or immediately after the kick and then enters the goal from the kick.
What is the correct decision?
bit.ly/PenaltyShoot-out
Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid
➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS
LAW CHANGES 2026/27
The goalkeeper delays a goal kick at the end of the match: ignores the ball passed by a ball girl, goes for another ball, and slowly walks to the goal area. The goalkeeper has been cautioned (yellow card) in the first half.
What action does the referee take?
➡️ bit.ly/GoalKickOffences
➡️ bit.ly/5-second_countdown
Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid
➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS
If the #referee applies an advantage for a red card offence (including a second yellow card) and the offending player then challenges an opponent or interferes with play, the referee will:
➡️ stop play
➡️ send off the player
➡️ restart play with:
– an indirect free kick (e.g. if the player clears the ball or gains possession without committing a foul) or
– a direct free kick/penalty kick if the interference was a more serious offence (e.g. a careless or reckless tackle)
Find out more: bit.ly/_Sanctions
Download the official app: bit.ly/Laws_App_
The #referee should NOT play the advantage following sending-off (red card, RC) offences, particularly those involving:
➡️ serious foul play
➡️ violent conduct
➡️ a second cautionable (yellow card, YC) offence
unless the non-offending team has a clear opportunity to score.
ADVANTAGE LEADING TO A GOAL
If the referee plays the advantage following an offence and, as a result, a goal is scored by the attacking team:
➡️ the player who committed the DOGSO offence is NOT cautioned or sent off
➡️ a card may be shown for the physical severity of the offence, e.g. a YC for a reckless challenge and RC for serious foul play
Find out more: bit.ly/_Sanctions
CORRECT SANCTION
If the #referee plays the advantage following an offence that would have resulted in a RC or YC being shown, the card must be shown when the ball is next out of play, e.g.:
➡️ a RC for serious foul play or violent conduct
➡️ a YC for a reckless challenge (followed by a RC, if this is the player’s second YC in the match)
However, if the original offence was:
➡️ stopping or interfering with a promising attack (SPA) – no card is shown
➡️ denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) – a YC is shown if the advantage does not result in a goal, but if a goal is scored by the non-offending team, there is no card
Find out more: bit.ly/_Sanctions
LAW CHANGES 2026/27
A defender (Team A) deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm outside the penalty area to stop a pass towards an attacker (Team B). The handball offence denies the attacker an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, however, after that, another Team B player gains possession of the ball, runs one-on-one towards the goal and scores.
What is the correct decision?
➡️ bit.ly/_Sanctions
Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid
➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS
LAW CHANGES 2026/27
A player who is to be substituted refuses to leave the field of play at the nearest point on the boundary line.
What is the correct procedure?
➡️ bit.ly/_Substitutions
➡️ bit.ly/Ten-second_substituti…
Download the official app: bit.ly/Laws_App_
LAW CHANGES 2026/27
A player (Team A) committed a reckless challenge against an opponent (Team B) outside the penalty area. As a result, both players are injured and need attention.
What is the correct decision?
➡️ bit.ly/DirectFreeKick_
➡️ bit.ly/Referee_Powers
➡️ bit.ly/Injuries_Treatment
Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ bit.ly/LawsAppAndroid
➡️ bit.ly/LawsApp_iOS
LAW CHANGES 2026/27
A defending player uses their hand(s)/arm(s) in an attempt to prevent the ball from going into the goal.
What is the referee’s decision if the ball then enters the goal?
➡️ bit.ly/_Sanctions
Download the official app: bit.ly/Laws_App_
