Each season brings about changes and clarifications that demand a keen understanding and adaptation from the officials who enforce them. For the coming season IFAB have made the following changes.
Changes to Law 3. The Players
3.9. Goal scored with an extra person on the field of play
If, after a goal is scored, the referee realises, before play restarts, that an extra person was on the field of play when the goal was scored, and that person interfered with play:
- the referee must disallow the goal if the extra person was:
- a player, substitute, substituted player, sent-off player or team official of the team that scored the goal; play is restarted with a direct free kick from the position of the extra person
- an outside agent who interfered with play unless a goal results as outlined above in ‘Extra persons on the field of play’; play is restarted with a dropped ball
- the referee must allow the goal if the extra person was:
- a player, substitute, substituted player, sent-off player or team official of the team that conceded the goal
- an outside agent who did not interfere with play
Explanation:
Clarification that the referee should take action against an extra person on the field of play when a goal is scored only if the person affected the play, e.g. the Law does not expect the referee to penalise encroachment onto the field of play if it does not impact the play.
Changes to Law 6. The Other Match Officials
Introduction
Other match officials (two assistant referees, a fourth official, two additional assistant referees, a reserve assistant referee, a video assistant referee (VAR) and at least one assistant VAR (AVAR)) may be appointed to matches. (…)
The referee, assistant referees, fourth official, additional assistant referees and reserve assistant referee are the ‘on-field’ match officials.
(…)
The other ‘on-field’ match officials assist the referee with offences when they have a clearer view than the referee (…)
6.4. Reserve assistant referee
A reserve assistant referee may replace an assistant referee,fourth official or additional assistant referee who is unable to continue, and may also assist the referee in the same way as the other ‘on-field’ match officials.
Explanation:
The use of reserve assistant referees has increased significantly, and it is therefore logical that they should be able to give the same assistance to the referee as the other ‘on-field’ match officials.
Changes to Law 7. The Duration of the Match
7.3. Allowance for time lost
Allowance is made by the referee in each half for all playing time lost in that half through:
- substitutions
- (…)
- goal celebrations
- any other cause, including any significant delay to a restart (e.g. due to interference by an outside agent).
Explanation:
Goal celebrations will henceforth be listed separately to emphasise that they often result in a significant amount of time being lost, for which the referee makes allowance.
Changes to Law 10. Determining the Outcome of a Match
10.2. Winning team
(…)
When competition rules require a winning team after a drawn match (…), the only permitted procedures to determine the winning team are:
- away goals rule
- two equal periods of extra time not exceeding 15 minutes each
- penalties (penalty shoot-out)
A combination of the above procedures may be used.
Explanation:
The term ‘kicks from the penalty mark’ is outdated and rarely used. Most people refer to ‘penalties’ or a ‘penalty shoot-out’.
The change from ‘kicks from the penalty mark’ to ‘penalties (penalty shoot-out)’ will also apply to the following:
- Guidelines for temporary dismissals (sin bins)
- Law 2.2 – Replacement of a defective ball
- Law 3.5 – Offences and sanctions
- Law 5.3 – Powers and duties
- Law 10.3 – Penalties (penalty shoot-out)
- Law 12.3 – Disciplinary action
- Glossary
- Practical guidelines for match officials
10.3. Penalties (penalty shoot-out)
Penalties (penalty shoot-out) are taken after the match has ended (…); warnings and cautions issued to players and team officials during the match are not carried forward into kicks from the penalty mark penalties (penalty shoot-out).
Procedure
Before penalties (penalty shoot-out) start
- (…)
During penalties (penalty shoot-out)
- (…)
Subject to the conditions explained below, both teams take five kicks
- (…)
- Penalties (penalty shoot-out) must not be delayed for a player who leaves the field of play. (…)
Substitutions and sendings-off during penalties (penalty shoot-out)
Explanation
Clarification that warnings and cautions for team officials, as well as for players, are not carried forward into penalties (penalty shoot-out)
Changes to Law 11. Offside
11.2. Offside offence
(…)
A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who deliberately played* the ball, including by deliberate handball, is not considered to have gained an advantage, unless it was a deliberate save by any opponent.
*‘Deliberate play’ (excluding deliberate handball) is when a player has control of the ball with the possibility of:
- passing the ball to a team-mate;
- gaining possession of the ball; or
- clearing the ball (e.g. by kicking or heading it)
If the pass, attempt to gain possession or clearance by the player in control of the ball is inaccurate or unsuccessful, this does not negate the fact that the player ‘deliberately played’ the ball.
The following criteria should be used, as appropriate, as indicators that a player was in control of the ball and, as a result, can be considered to have ‘deliberately played’ the ball:
- The ball travelled from distance and the player had a clear view of it
- The ball was not moving quickly
- The direction of the ball was not unexpected
- The player had time to coordinate their body movement, i.e. it was not a case of instinctive stretching or jumping, or a movement that achieved limited contact/control
- A ball moving on the ground is easier to play than a ball in the air
Explanation:
The additional wording clarifies the guidelines for distinguishing between ‘deliberate play’ and ‘deflection’ based on the expectation that a player who is clearly in an offside position should not become onside on all occasions when an opponent moves and touches the ball. This wording was published in The IFAB’s circular 26 (July 2022).
Changes to Law 12. Fouls and Misconduct
12.3. Disciplinary action
Cautions for unsporting behaviour
There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour, including if a player:
- (…)
- handles the ball to interfere with or stop a promising attack
- commits any other offence which interferes with or stops a promising attack, except where the referee awards a penalty kick for an offence which was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball
- denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing an offence which was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball and the referee awards a penalty kick
(…)
Denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)
Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball; in all other circumstances (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.), the offending player must be sent off.
(…)
Explanation:
It is not always clear whether an action was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball (or both). The same principle should apply for challenging for the ball as attempting to play the ball. Where the referee awards a penalty for a DOGSO offence, the offending player is only sent off if the offence was committed without the possibility to play the ball.
Team officials
Where an offence is committed by someone from the technical area (substitute, substituted player, sent-off player or team official) and the offender cannot be identified, the senior team coach present in the technical area will receive the sanction.
Explanation:
Clarification that the senior team official can be sanctioned only for an offence committed by an ‘unidentified offender’ who is in/from the technical area, i.e. this does not apply to an offence committed by an ‘unidentified player’.
Changes to Law 14. The Penalty Kick
14.1. Procedure
(…)
The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts, until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper must not behave in a way that unfairly distracts the kicker, e.g. delay the taking of the kick or touch the goalposts, crossbar or goal net.
Explanation:
Clarification that the goalkeeper must not behave in a manner that fails to show respect for the game and the opponent, i.e. by unfairly distracting the kicker.
Changes to video assistant referee (VAR) protocol
3. Practicalities
The use of VARs during a match involves the following practical arrangements:
- The VAR watches the match in the video operation room (VOR) assisted by
anone or more assistant VARs (AVARs) - Depending on the number of camera angles and other considerations, there may be more than one AVAR and one or more replay operators (ROs)
- (…)
Explanation:
Amended wording reflects the VAR ‘light’ system, which does not involve a replay operator.