Referees will now account for stoppages such as injuries, goal celebrations, and substitutions, pausing the clock whenever play halts.
- Time-Wasting Penalties: Both goalkeepers and outfield players can be cautioned, booked, or penalized for delaying the game.
- Offside Rule: A player who is offside can become “onside” if an opponent intervenes and touches the ball.
- Goalkeeper Behavior During Penalties: Goalkeepers can face penalties for attempting to distract the player taking a penalty kick.
- Technical Area Regulations: Coaches are prohibited from crowding the technical area, and only one official is allowed in the designated space outside the bench.
- Dissent: Players may be penalized for surrounding the referee to demand a card or other action.
- Foul Threshold: Referees may allow play to continue if awarding a free kick would unnecessarily delay the game.
- Law 1: The Field of Play: The field must be natural or meet the specific rules for the competition.
- Law 2: The Ball: The ball must be spherical and comply with required quality and size standards.
- Law 3: The Players: Each team consists of up to 11 players, with two teams playing in a match.
- Law 4: Player Equipment: Players are required to wear approved gear and must avoid any dangerous items.
- Law 5: The Referee: A match is overseen by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game.
- Law 6: Other Match Officials: Assistant referees and other officials support the referee in managing the match.
- Law 7: Match Duration: A match consists of two equal halves, each 45 minutes long, unless otherwise stated.
- Law 8: Kick-Off and Restart: The match begins with a kick-off, and the team kicking off the first half is determined by a coin toss.
- Law 9: Ball In and Out of Play: The ball is out of play when it fully crosses the goal line or touchline or when the referee stops play.
- Law 10: Scoring a Goal: A goal is awarded when the entire ball crosses the goal line between the goalposts.
- Law 11: Offside: A player is offside if they are closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last defender.
- Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct: Direct and indirect free kicks, as well as penalty kicks, can be awarded for fouls committed while the ball is in play.
- Law 13: Free Kicks: Free kicks are awarded for various types of fouls, either direct or indirect.
- Law 14: Penalty Kick: A penalty kick is given if a foul occurs inside a player’s own penalty area.
- Law 15: Throw-In: A throw-in is awarded to the opposing team when the ball completely crosses the touchline.
- Law 16: Goal Kick: A goal kick is awarded when the ball completely crosses the goal line and was last touched by a player from the attacking team.
- Law 17: Corner Kick: A corner kick is awarded when the ball fully crosses the goal line and was last touched by a player from the defending team.
