Law Changes for the 2025/26 Season

Competitions have the option of implementing the ‘Only the captain’ guidelines

Change to Law 3. The Players > 3.10 Team captain

Additional text:

Each team must have a captain on the field of play who wears an identifying armband. The team captain has no special status or privileges but has a degree of responsibility for the behaviour of the team.

Competitions may implement the ‘Only the captain’ guidelines listed under ‘Notes and modifications’.

Explanation:

Competitions are encouraged to use the ‘Only the captain’ guidelines to improve on-field behaviour and to enhance cooperation and strengthen the rapport between the players and the referee.

Signal to be used by referees to count down the last five seconds of the eight-second restriction on goalkeepers controlling the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s)

Change to Law 5. The Referee > 5.6 Referee signals

Countdown for the last five seconds of the eight-second restriction on goalkeepers controlling the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s)

If, when play was stopped, the ball was:

• inside the penalty area – the ball is dropped for the defending team goalkeeper in their penalty area
• outside the penalty area – the ball is dropped for a player of the team that has or would have gained possession if this is clear to the referee; otherwise, it is dropped for a player of the team that last touched it. The ball is dropped at its position when play was stopped

Changes to Law 8. The Start and Restart of Play > 8.2 Dropped ball

Amended text:

Procedure

• The ball is dropped for the defending team goalkeeper in their penalty area if, when play was stopped:
  • the ball was in the penalty area or
  • the last touch of the ball was in the penalty area
• In all other cases, the referee drops the ball for one player of the team that last touched the ball at the position where it last touched a player, an outside agent or, as outlined in Law 9.1, a match official

• If, when play was stopped:
  • the ball was inside the penalty area, the referee drops it for the defending team goalkeeper in their penalty area
  • the ball was outside the penalty area, the referee drops it for one player of the team that has or would have gained possession if this can be determined by the referee; otherwise, it is dropped for one player of the team that last touched it. The ball is dropped at its position when play was stopped
• (…)

Explanation:

There are times when the ball would clearly have gone to an opponent of the team that last touched the ball. In such instances, it is fairer for the ball to be dropped for the team that would have gained possession, as long as this is clear to the referee. Outside the penalty area, the ball will now be dropped at its position when play was stopped.

Indirect free kick and no disciplinary sanction when a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player or player who is temporarily off the field of play touches the ball as it is leaving the field of play and there is no intention to interfere unfairly

Change to Law 9. The Ball in and out of Play > 9.2 Ball in play

Additional text:

The ball is in play at all other times (…) and remains on the field of play.

If, without intending to interfere with play unfairly, a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player or player who is temporarily off the field of play (injury, adjusting equipment etc.) touches the ball while it is still in play but when it is clearly leaving the field of play, this is penalised with an indirect free kick; there is no sanction.

Explanation:

There are times when a coach, substitute or player who is temporarily off the field of play (among others) touches the ball as it is going out of play with the intention of helping the game restart quickly. In such cases, an indirect free kick will be awarded but there will be no disciplinary sanction, unless such a sanction is to be issued for persistently leaving the technical area.

When the goalkeeper throws the ball, the last point of contact should be used for the purpose of determining an offside position

Change to Law 11. Offside > 11.2 Offside offence

Additional text:

*The first point of contact of the ‘play’ or ‘touch’ of the ball should be used; however, when the ball is thrown by the goalkeeper, the last point of contact should be used.

Explanation:

The first point of contact with the ball is used when determining whether a player is in an offside position. However, when the ball is thrown by the goalkeeper, the last point of contact should be used, as this provides a clearer and more consistent reference point.

A goalkeeper who controls the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) for more than eight seconds will be penalised, with a corner kick being awarded to the other team

Changes to Law 12. Fouls and Misconduct > 12.2 Indirect free kick

Amended text:

(…)
An indirect free kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their penalty area, commits any of the following offences:

• controls the ball with the hand/arm for more than six seconds before releasing it
• touches the ball with the hand/arm after releasing it and before it has touched another player
• touches the ball with the hand/arm, unless the goalkeeper has clearly kicked or attempted to kick the ball to release it into play, after:
  • it has been deliberately kicked to the goalkeeper by a team-mate
  • receiving it directly from a throw-in taken by a team-mate

A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball with the hand(s) when:

• the ball is between the hands or between the hand and any surface (e.g. ground, own body) or by touching it with any part of the hands or arms, except if the ball rebounds from the goalkeeper or the goalkeeper has made a save
• holding the ball in the outstretched open hand
• bouncing it on the ground or throwing it in the air

A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball with the hand(s).
(…)

Explanation:

If a goalkeeper has control of the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) for more than eight seconds, the referee will now award a corner kick (rather than an indirect free kick) on the side of the field closest to the goalkeeper’s position when penalised. There is no disciplinary action unless the goalkeeper repeatedly commits the offence.

Changes to Law 12. Fouls and Misconduct > 12.3 Corner kick

Additional text:

3. Corner kick

A corner kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their penalty area, controls the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) for more than eight seconds before releasing it. A goalkeeper is considered to be in control of the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) when:

• the ball is between their hands/arms or between their hand(s)/arm(s) and any surface (e.g. ground, own body)
• holding the ball in their outstretched open hand(s)
• bouncing it on the ground or throwing it in the air

The referee will decide when the goalkeeper has control of the ball and the eight seconds begin and will visually count down the last five seconds with a raised hand.

A goalkeeper cannot be challenged by an opponent when in control of the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s).

Explanation:

• If a goalkeeper has control of the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) for more than eight seconds, the referee will now award a corner kick (rather than an indirect free kick) on the side of the field closest to the goalkeeper’s position when penalised. There is no disciplinary action unless the goalkeeper repeatedly commits the offence.
• To assist the goalkeeper, the referee will signal the final five seconds using a raised hand.

Renumbering of the following subsections as follows:

4. Disciplinary action
5. Restart of play after fouls and misconduct

Reference to other Laws detailing situations which result in a goal kick

Change to Law 16. The Goal Kick > Introduction

Additional text:

A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored (see also Laws 8, 10, 13 and 15).

Explanation:

Reference to other Laws detailing situations which result in a goal kick

• Reference to other Laws detailing situations which result in a corner kick
• Kick to be taken from the corner area nearest to the goalkeeper’s position when penalised

Change to Law 17. The Corner Kick > Introduction

Additional text:

A corner kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored (see also Laws 8, 12, 13, 15 and 16).
(…)

Explanation:

Reference to other Laws detailing situations which result in a corner kick

Change to Law 17. The Corner Kick > 17.1 Procedure

Additional text:

• The ball must be placed in the corner area nearest to the point where the ball passed over the goal line or the goalkeeper’s position when penalised

Explanation:

Kick to be taken from the corner area nearest to the goalkeeper’s position when penalised

Change to Law 17. The Corner Kick > 17.1 Procedure

Additional text:

• The ball must be placed in the corner area nearest to the point where the ball passed over the goal line or the goalkeeper’s position when penalised

Explanation:

Kick to be taken from the corner area nearest to the goalkeeper’s position when penalised

Competitions have the option for the referee to make an announcement after a VAR ‘review’ or lengthy VAR ‘check’

Change to Video assistant referee (VAR) protocol > 4. Procedures

Additional text:

Final decision

• When the review process is completed, the referee must show the ‘TV signal’ and communicate the final decision; competitions may also implement a system in which the referee publicly explains and announces decisions following a VAR ‘review’ or lengthy VAR ‘check’, as outlined in the FIFA guidelines and the VAR Handbook
• (…)

Explanation:

Following successful trials, competitions now have the option of the referee announcing and explaining decisions after a VAR ‘review’ or lengthy VAR ‘check’.