- There is no limit on the number of substitutes that can be used in youth football
- Permission is needed from The IFAB for any modifications not already permitted
- Temporary dismissals – System B: a player who receives two temporary dismissals and a non-temporary dismissal caution (YC) may not be substituted/replaced
Law 1
- Clarification of measurements on the field of play
- Reference to substituted players being permitted to be in the technical area
- Commercial advertising is not permitted on the ground in the Referee Review Area (RRA)
- Reference to the Video Operation Room (VOR) and Referee Review Area (RRA)
Law 3
- Competition rules may permit the use of an additional substitute in extra time (even if not
- all permitted substitutes have been used)
- A maximum of 12 substitutes can be named for international ‘A’ friendly matches
Law 4
- Small, hand-held electronic or communication devices are permitted in the technical area
- if used for coaching/ tactics or player welfare
- Introduction of a FIFA quality mark for EPTS, and data from EPTS may be received in the
- technical area during the match
- Detailed guidelines for what can and cannot appear on players’ equipment
- Player who has left the field because of an equipment issue and returns without
- permission and interferes is penalised with a direct free kick (or penalty kick)
Law 5
- Reference to video assistant referees (VARs) and assistant VARs (AVARs) and the ability of a referee to use video replays for decision making as part of VAR system
- Some sending-off offences can be reviewed even if play has restarted
- Distinction between ‘on-field’ match officials and ‘video’ match officials
- Match officials are not permitted to wear cameras
- Inclusion of the referee ‘check’ and ‘review’ signals used in the VAR process
Law 6
- Duties of the video assistant referee (VAR) and assistant VAR (AVAR)
Law 7
- Drinks breaks should not exceed one minute
- Allowance must be made for time ‘lost’ for drinks breaks and VAR checks/ reviews
Law 10
- Kicks from the penalty mark – a replacement for a goalkeeper cannot take a kick in that
- ‘round’ if the goalkeeper has already taken a kick
Law 11
- The first point of contact when the ball is played/touched is the moment when offside position is judged
Law 12
- Biting is included as a direct free kick and sending-off offence
- Throwing an object at the ball or hitting the ball with a held object are separate direct free kick offences (not a form of handball)
- If the ball rebounds from the goalkeeper this does not prevent the goalkeeper handling
- the ball a second time even if the first attempt to catch/holds the ball was deliberate
- If the referee plays advantage for a DOGSO the offender is cautioned (YC) whether or not a
- goal is scored
- Entering the RRA or excessively showing the TV signal are cautions (YCs)
- Where 2 separate cautionable (YC) offences are committed in close proximity, both cautions (YCs) must be issued; same principle if one is a sending off offence
- Entering the VOR is a sending-off (RC) offence
- If a player commits an offence outside the field of play (ball in play) against someone from their own team (including a team official) it is an indirect free kick on the boundary line
Law 13
- Clarification that free kicks can also be awarded for offences by a substitute, substituted or sent off player, or a team official
Law 15
- A player must stand to take a throw-in (kneeling, sitting etc. not permitted)
Deleted text in Law 2
- Reference to previous ball quality marks: Balls carrying previous quality marks such as “FIFA Approved”, “FIFA Inspected” or “International Matchball Standard” may be used in aforementioned competitions until 31 July 2017
Source: IFAB
