Where Does It Say That
In the Laws?
Law Interpretation
• Some truisms are not included in the Laws.
• Some Laws are not interpreted exactly as they
are written.
• To maximize players’ enjoyment, referees need
to apply the Laws consistently.
 To do so, they must know proper
interpretations and where to find them.
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Sources & Abbreviations
FIFA Q&A
The Laws of the Game
Questions and Answers
2006
available at http://www.fifa.com
USSF Advice (ATR) Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game
2005
available at http://www.ussoccer.com
USSF Memoranda and Position Papers; law Interpretations
Most documents are also found at www.eteamz.com/epsarc
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in Law 11 does it say you should call offside if a player takes a
shot which deflects off the goalpost to a teammate standing in an offside
position near the touch line, if you would not have called offside had the
shot gone directly into goal?
It doesn’t, but that’s the correct interpretation.
• The 2006 Law book Offside Illustrations (pg. 60, -66, top) show these
situations. (Note: These illustrations are not found in the 2005 LOTG,
but the principles remain unchanged).
Law 11: “A player in an offside position is only penalised if, at the moment the
ball touches or is played by one of his team, he is, in the opinion of the
referee, involved in active play by:
• interfering with play or
• interfering with an opponent or
• gaining an advantage by being in that position”
Moral: Don’t believe everything you read, and don’t be a “Book Referee”.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say referees should be concerned about
spectators enjoying the game?
It doesn’t, but it once did, and it is still true.
• The 1997 rewrite of the Laws omitted Law V, IBD 8,. It read, in
part, “Constant whistling for trifling and doubtful breaches
produces bad feelings and loss of temper on the part of the
players and spoils the pleasure of spectators.”
• USSF Advice 5.5 now quotes IBD 8, adding that it is considered
an integral element of the “Spirit of the Game”.
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IBD 8
The Laws of the Game are intended to provide that games should be
played with as little interference as possible, and in this view it is the
duty of referees to penalise only deliberate breaches of the
Law.Constant whistling for trifling and doubtful breaches produces bad
feeling and loss of temper on the part of the players and spoils the
pleasure of spectators.
THESE WERE CONSIDERED THE 63 WORDS THAT DEFINED THE
SPIRIT OF THE GAME, THOUGH NO LONGER IN THE WORDING
OF THE LOTG, THEY ARE INCLUDED BY INFERENCE
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say it’s okay for goalkeepers to wear the
same color shirts?
It doesn’t, but it is sometimes necessary.
• Law 4: “Each goalkeeper wears colours which distinguish him
from the other players, the referee and the assistant referees”.
• FIFA Q&A 4.1: “If the colour of the shirts of the two goalkeepers
is the same, what should the referee do if neither has another
shirt to change into?”
• Answer: “The referee allows play to begin.”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that a goalkeeper can wear long pants?
It doesn’t say whether he may or may not.
• Law 4 specifies the “basic compulsory equipment of a
player”.
• Law 4 also states: “A player must not use equipment
or wear anything which is dangerous to himself or
another player (including any kind of jewellery).”
FIFA Q&A 2006 3.4 Could the goalkeeper wear track
bottoms as part of his basic equipment ? YES
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say a player's jersey must be tucked in the
shorts?
It doesn’t, but that’s the correct interpretation.
• USSF Advice 4.1: “Players’ jerseys must remain tucked inside
their shorts, socks must remain pulled up, and each player must
wear shinguards under the socks.”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say players can or can’t wear casts?
It doesn’t specifically state it in the Laws,
Law 4 states: “A player must not use equipment or wear anything which
is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of
jewellery).”
Note: Prior to 1997 Law IV read: “A player shall not wear anything
which is dangerous to another player.” The “to himself” was added in
1997.
The authority rests with the Referee. Law 5-” Ensures that the player’s
equipment meets the requirements of Law 4
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Where Does It Say That?
The wearing of any kind of jewellery is prohibited and must not be worn?
Law 4-A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to
himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery)
Additional instructions for Referees, Assistant Referees and 4th Officials.
Jewellery
All items of jewellery are potentially dangerous. The term “dangerous” can sometimes be
ambiguous and controversial, therefore, in order to be uniform and consistent any kind of
jewellery has to be forbidden.
Players are not allowed to use tape to cover jewellery. Taping jewellery is not adequate
protection.
Rings, earrings, leather or rubber bands are not necessary to play and the only thing they
can bring about is injury.
In order to avoid last minute problems, teams should inform their players in advance,
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say who calls the coin toss?
It doesn’t.
The Laws do not specify whether the referee or the captain of either
team tosses the coin.
Law 8-’A coin is tossed and the team that wins the toss decides which
goal it will attack in the first half of the match”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say the referee must blow his or her whistle
for a kick-off to be taken?
It doesn’t, but it is traditional, the players expect it, and you should
signal with your whistle.
• Law 8 simply states “the referee gives a signal”.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say the referee should blow his or her whistle
Three times to signal the end of a half?
It doesn’t, but most referees do.
Ken Aston originated this practice.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that dangerous play must involve an
opponent?
It doesn’t, but that’s the correct interpretation.
• Law 12 states that an IFK is awarded to the opposing team if a
player, in the opinion of the referee, “plays in a dangerous
manner”.
• USSF 12.13 states: “Playing in a manner considered to be
dangerous when only a teammate is nearby is not a foul.”
If play is stopped for a dangerous situation involving only teammates,
play must be restarted with a dropped ball.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say an attacker is or is not allowed to charge
the goalkeeper in his penalty area?
It doesn’t.
A goalkeeper dribbling the ball may be fairly charged just the same as
any other player, whether in or out of his or her penalty area.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say what a fair charge is?
It doesn’t.
• But prior to 1997 it was alluded to in Law XII regarding the fair charge
when not within playing distance of the ball. The text read, in part
“Charging fairly, i.e. with the shoulder”.
• USSF Advice 12.5 states: “Although the fair charge is commonly defined
as ‘shoulder to shoulder,’ this is not a requirement and, at certain age
levels where heights may vary greatly, may not even be possible.”
• USSF Advice 12.5 also states: “The Law does require that the charge
be directed toward the area of the shoulder and not toward the center of
the opponent’s back (the spinal area).”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say a goalkeeper must be conscious, or
uninjured, or even on the field for a goal to count?
It doesn’t.
• Law 3 does require a team to have a goalkeeper. If a goalkeeper is
unconscious or seriously injured, the team no longer has a player
capable of tending goal, and the play should be suspended until the
goalkeeper is sufficiently recovered or substituted.
It is possible, but unlikely, for a goal to be scored while the goalkeeper is off the
field of play.
The 2006 FIFA Q&A Book has the following:
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say a goalkeeper must be conscious, or
uninjured, or even on the field for a goal to count?
•FIFA Q&A 3-20: During a match, the goalkeeper sprints from the goal
to stop an opponent. He kicks the ball out of the field of play and a
throw-in is awarded to the opposing team. The momentum of the
goalkeeper takes him off the field of play and before he can return, the
throw-in is taken and a goal is scored. What action, if any, should the
referee take?
•Answer: A goal is awarded since no offence has been committed.
•LAW 14-PK- what does it say??
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that a coach cautioned or ejected from a
game is not shown a yellow or red card?
Law 12, Disciplinary Sanctions reads: “Only a player or substitute or
substituted player may be shown the red or yellow card.”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that when misconduct is committed off
the field of play while the ball is in play, play is restarted with a dropped
ball?
It doesn’t, but that’s the correct interpretation.
• Law 12 tells us that an IFK is awarded for any other offense
committed by a player “not previously mentioned in Law 12, for
which play is stopped to caution or dismiss a player” and that
“The indirect free kick is taken from where the offence
occurred….” If the offense occurs off the field, where would you
give the free kick?
• Law 8 tells us to restart play with a dropped ball when play has
been stopped for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in the
Laws.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that when misconduct is committed off
the field of play while the ball is in play, play is restarted with a dropped
ball?
The 2006 FIFA Q&A Book has the following:
• FIFA Q&A 12.3: While the ball is in play, the goalkeeper violently
strikes an opponent in the area enclosed by the goal line and the
nets. What action does the referee take?
• Answer: The referee stops play, sends off the goalkeeper and
restarts play with a dropped ball at the place where it was
located when play was stopped.
A penalty kick is not awarded , as the area in which the incident
occurred is not part of the field of play.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that when misconduct is committed off
the field of play while the ball is in play, play is restarted with a dropped
ball?
The 2006 Q&A Book also includes:
• FIFA Q&A 12.10: The player running with the ball sees a
defender immediately in front of him and runs off the field of play
to continue playing the ball. The opponent holds him beyond the
touch line to prevent him continuing his run. What action does
the referee take?
• Answer: Play is stopped and the opponent is cautioned for
unsporting behaviour. Play is restarted with a dropped ball at the
place where the ball was located when play was stopped.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that a DFK (or PK) is awarded if a player
enters/reenters the field of play while the ball is in play and without the
referee’s permission, and then deliberately handles the ball? Since the
cautionable offense of entering/reentering occurred first, shouldn’t the
restart be an IFK?
•Prior to 1997 this was covered quite succinctly in Law XII (j), regarding
the cautionable offense of illegal entry/reentry.
•It read: “If, however, the offending player has committed a more
serious offense he shall be penalised according to that section of the
law he infringed.”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that a DFK (or PK) is awarded if a player
enters/reenters the field of play while the ball is in play and without the
referee’s permission, and then deliberately handles the ball? Since the
cautionable offense of entering/reentering occurred first, shouldn’t the
restart be an IFK?
The 2006 Q&A Book has the following:
•FIFA Q&A 12.9: A player enters the field of play without receiving a
signal from the referee and then deliberately handles the ball. What
action does the referee take?
•Answer: The player is cautioned for entering the field of play without
the permission of the referee. Play is restarted with a direct free kick or
penalty kick to punish the more serious offense.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that a DFK (or PK) is awarded if a player
enters/reenters the field of play while the ball is in play and without the
referee’s permission, and then deliberately handles the ball? Since the
cautionable offense of entering/reentering occurred first, shouldn’t the
restart be an IFK?
If, in the opinion of the referee, the player is also guilty of unsporting
behaviour, by deliberately handling the ball, he is sent off for receiving a
second caution in the same match.
If, in the opinion of the referee, the player is also guilty of denying a
goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity, the player is sent off.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that advantage cannot be awarded for
infringements other than those specified in Law 12?
It doesn’t explicitly.
• Law 5, listing the powers and duties of the referee, states that
the referee “allows play to continue when the team against
which an offence has been committed will benefit from such
an advantage…”. The Laws use the word “offence” for violations
of Law 12 and the word “infringement” for violations generally.
• USSF Advice 5.6 states: The advantage applies only to
infringements of Law 12 (fouls and/or misconduct) and not to
infringements of other Laws.”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that if the referee applies advantage and
a teammate of the original offender commits a foul, the referee can stop
play and penalize the first offense?
It doesn’t, but that’s the correct interpretation.
When the Law was changed in 1996 allowing the referee to wait and see
whether or not the advantage materialized, the IFAB stated that if a second
offense is committed by a teammate of the player who committed the first
offense, the referee must sanction the more serious of the two offenses. The
referee could, of course, again apply advantage.
• USSF Advice 5.6 says “a subsequent offense by a player of the
offending team must not be ignored while the referee allows the
anticipated development of the advantage. Such an offense may either
be recognized by stopping play immediately or by applying the
advantage clause again.”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that if the referee applies advantage and
the ball immediately goes out of play, the original foul is not penalized?
It doesn’t, but that’s the correct interpretation.
When the Law was changed in 1996 allowing the referee to wait and see
whether or not the advantage materialized (and if not, award the free kick or
penalty kick, as appropriate), the IFAB stated that if the ball goes out of play
during this time, then play must be restarted with the appropriate restart.
• USSF Advice 5.6 says “The referee may return to and penalize the
original foul if the advantage situation does not develop as anticipated
after a short while (2-3 seconds). If the ball goes out of play during this
time, then play must be restarted in accordance with the Law.”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that a push which is neither careless,
reckless, nor with excessive force is a foul (the Ken Aston example of
the “nudge” from behind of a player in the air to head a ball)?
It doesn’t, but ask yourself: “Is it fair?” Then give the free kick.
Remember Law 18 – Common Sense!
• In 1997 Michel Vautrot, at that time a member of the FIFA
Referees’ Committee, wrote “Law 18, still unwritten but
frequently quoted as the ultimate goal of refereeing: ‘Intelligence
in the perception of the game, the attitude of the players, the
place and the moment of the offence.’”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say what to do if a player who is directly
behind an opponent yells at him to scare him into taking his
concentration off the ball?
It doesn’t directly, but this is considered unsporting behavior, a
cautionable offense.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say it’s okay to take a goal kick before all
opponents leave the penalty area?
It doesn’t, but just as with the quick free kick, a quick goal kick should
be permitted.
• Law 16 states, in part: “opponents remain outside the penalty
area until the ball is in play”.
• USSF Advice 16.4 says: “An opponent who infringes on the
requirement to remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in
play should be warned and, upon a repetition, cautioned for
persistent infringement. In any event, the goal kick is retaken.”
However, if the team taking the goal kick wants to get the ball into play
quickly, they should be allowed to do so.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say you can't pass an object onto the field
when the game is underway and that doing so warrants a yellow card?
It doesn’t say this in the body of the Laws, but FIFA’s additional
instructions (page 80 of the 2006 Law Book) state that “Players are
entitled to take liquid refreshments during a stoppage in the match but
only on the touch line. It is not permitted to throw plastic water bags or
any other water containers onto the field.”
By extension, nothing should be thrown onto the field. A caution, if
given, would be for unsporting behavior.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say the referee may drop the ball for two, one
or no players at all?
It doesn’t. However, with certain exceptions, it is traditional, expected,
and often fair to have a player from each team.
• USSF Advice 8.5: “There is no requirement that players from
both teams—or that any player—must take part at a dropped
ball.”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does is say that a player sent off during the match
cannot be replaced by a named substitute?
Law 3 almost answers this question. It says: “A player who has been
sent off before the kick-off may be replaced only by one of the named
substitutes.” The implication is that substitution for a player sent off
after the kick-off is not permitted.
• Prior to 1997 Law III, IBD 3 read: “A player who has been
ordered off before play begins may only be replaced by one of
the named substitutes….A player who has been ordered off after
play has started may not be replaced.”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that ‘club linesmen’ may be used?
It doesn’t, but it once did.
•
Law 6 states that two assistant referees are to be appointed but makes no
mention of club linesmen.
The 1996 Law Book contained a section titled “Co-operation Between the Referee and
the Assistant Referees” (in previous years “…Between Referee and Linesmen”), with a
subsection titled “Club assistant referees”. The club assistant referees/club linesmen
duties were limited to signaling “when the ball is entirely over the touch-line and to
indicate which side is entitled to the throw-in, subject always to the decision of the
referee.”
USSF has adopted the term ‘club linesmen’ rather than ‘club assistant referees’.
•
USSF Advice 6.6, titled “Club Linesmen” states “Where neutral assistant referees
are not available, the referee may use club linesmen.” And “Club linesmen are to
signal only when the ball is entirely over the goal line or touch-line.”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that a player who has been substituted
for may not re-enter the match?
Law 3, Substitution Procedure, states: “A player who has been
replaced takes no further part in the match.”
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that, during extended time, after a
penalty kick is taken only the defending goalkeeper may touch the ball?
It doesn’t, but it once did, and it is still the correct interpretation.
• Prior to 1997, Law XIV, IBD 6 (par. 2), concerning PKs in
extended time, stated: “After the player taking the penalty-kick
has put the ball into play, no player other than the defending
goalkeeper may play or touch the ball before the kick is
completed.”
This isn't in the current Laws, but it still applies.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say what to do if a player taking a corner kick
moves the corner flag out of the way while taking the kick?
It doesn’t.
• Law 17 states, in part: “the corner flag is not moved”.
Blow your whistle and have the flag repositioned properly before
signaling for the corner kick to be taken.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say, at the taking of a corner kick, that it’s
okay for the ball to be touching the ground outside the corner arc?
It doesn’t, but that’s the correct interpretation.
• In 1996 Law XVII read, in part “the whole of the ball shall be placed
within the quarter circle at the nearest corner-flagpost”.
• In 1997 Law 17 was revised to read “the ball is placed inside the corner
arc at the nearest corner flagpost”.
Note: There was no change bar indicating this change, and the rewrite draft
presented to the IFAB in March 1997 had a drawing showing the ball entirely
within the arc. The 1997 and subsequent Law Books correctly illustrated that
the whole of the ball need not be within the corner arc, as does the 2006 FIFA
Q&A Book pg. 44 and USSF Advice 17.1.
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Where Does It Say That?
Where in the Laws does it say that if a goalkeeper
• goes to the opposite end of the field,
• takes a corner kick,
• after the ball is in play rushes back to his own penalty area and,
• no one else having played the ball,
• is the first player to play the ball, picking it up with his hands,
• that an indirect free kick should be awarded?
Law 17! It happens all the time…
(Sure)
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Getting Correct Answers
For authoritative interpretations, consult:
•
FIFA Q&A, USSF Advice, USSF memoranda and
Position Papers
•
www.eteamz.com/epsarc
•
www.ussoccer.com
•
Your local Referee Instructors
•
Jeff DeLuca, State Director of Instruction
215-289-6631 or [email protected]
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Is EVERYTHING we need to
know and enforce in
connection with the LOTG
covered in the law book?
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