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Laws of the Game Changes 2018-2019

Modifications
  • 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