As some of you may know, I referee a lot of football in the US. There we're some pretty significant law changes made for the next season and I wanted to clarify those changes. Unfortunately, the football media has a habit of not doing the greatest job explaining law changes so I made this post. Feel free to ask me questions.
The actual text changes can be viewed here - http://static-3eb8.kxcdn.com/documents/791/171520_110319_IFAB_LoG_changes_and_clarifications.pdf
The actual text changes can be viewed here - http://static-3eb8.kxcdn.com/documents/791/171520_110319_IFAB_LoG_changes_and_clarifications.pdf
- Substitutions – Previously the law allowed for a player to leave the field at any boundary. The latest change mandates a player leaves at the nearest boundary unless the referee allows the player to leave at the halfway line. We will have to see how this change applies at the professional level. You can imagine a situation where a Celtic player is subbed at Ibrox and has to walk around half of the pitch in front of Rangers fans and how this could lead to unforeseen issues. (Major Change....?)
- Cards to managers – As experimented with in the Football League and League Cup, the referee will now now show managers and bench personnel yellow and red cards. In addition, if the referee or fourth official cannot identify the person which the misconduct on the bench came from, the most senior coach will receive the yellow or red card.
- Allows an injured player to remain on the pitch and take a penalty kick.
- Clarifies that ‘drinks’ stoppages due to hot/humid weather should be added onto the end of a half.
- The coin toss will allow a team to take the kick off or defend a certain half of the field.
- Dropped balls – All dropped balls will involve one player with all other players mandated to be at least four meters from the dropped ball. If a dropped ball is required AND play was stopped in the penalty area OR the last touch of the ball was in the penalty area then the ball must be dropped to the goalkeeper. In all other cases, the ball must be dropped to a player of the team that last touched the ball before play was stopped. For example, if play was stopped because a player was seriously injured, play will restart with a dropped ball to the team who last touched the ball when play was stopped. No longer will a team ‘play the ball back’ to the opposition. (Major Change)
- If the ball hits the referee and it goes directly into the goal, OR leads to a ‘promising attack’, OR causes a change in possession then play is restarted with a dropped ball. (Major Change)
- A goalkeeper cannot throw the ball into the opposing goal. Obviously very rare but more likely to happen at the indoor or small sided level.
- Handling - This is a big change. While there is significant change to the wording of the handling law (the word ‘deliberate’ no longer exists), the referee in me must note that the changes made are to match up with how FIFA/UEFA have currently instructed referees to call handling. So, don’t expect the types of ‘handball’ calls to change. The law was re-written to match up with what’s already being called.
- The key changes to the handling law are as followed:
- You cannot score a goal from handling the ball, even if it’s accidental.
- If the ball hits your hand and you gain control of the ball or create a scoring chance, then it is a ‘handball offence
- If the ball hits your arm which is above shoulder level OR if their hand/arm has made their body ‘unnaturally bigger’, then it is usually a ‘handling offence’
- It’s not usually an offence if the ball hits the arm when it’s close to the body OR it comes off of your foot/head/body and goes into your hand
- The most important thing I can iterate from this change in the handling law is that it was written to match how top level referees had already been told to call the game. So when you see articles in August about changes to the law, make sure you realize that handling hasn't really changed how it will be called. Only the wording was changed to match how it was already being called in today's game.
- The key changes to the handling law are as followed:
- Clarifies that a goalkeeper cannot be given a yellow or red card for handling the ball inside their penalty area. Only an indirect free kick can be given.
- If the goalkeeper attempts to clear a ‘backpass’ but fails, they can then pick the ball up. As a referee, it’s unclear with the language what counts as a failed clearance. Hopefully further information is coming about his.
- Allows the referee to delay showing a red or yellow card if the non-offending team takes a quick free kick and has a clear goal scoring opportunity. If the team committed a red card offence for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity and the quick free kick is allowed, the offending player will be cautioned when the ball next goes out of play.
- A player must still be cautioned for an inappropriate goal celebration (removing the shirt, climbing into the stands, etc.) even if the goal is disallowed through VAR.
- A list of yellow and red cards to coaching staff is included in the Laws of the Game. These are similar to the already existing standards which would lead to a manager being warned (yellow card) or removed (red card).
- Clarifies that all verbal offences are restarted with an indirect free kick.
- Clarifies that an offence against a teammate or own team’s official outside the field of play results in an indirect free kick.
- Clarifies that kicking an object that isn’t a ball at an opposition player OR kicking an object including the ball at a substitute or bench personnel is a direct free kick offence.
- If three or more players form a ‘wall’, all attacking players must remain at least 1 meter from the wall until the ball is put into play. If the attacking team is within 1m of the wall when the kick is taken, an indirect free kick will be awarded to the other team. (Major Change)
- The goalkeeper must have one foot on the goal line at the moment a penalty kick is taken. Ref note – It’s to be seen if this is enforced any more strictly than the current law.
- A goal kick or a defensive free kick is in play when it’s kick and moved. No longer must a goal kick leave the penalty area to be in play. (Major change)
Last edited: