Law 3 – The Players
• Clarification that the referee should take action against an extra person on the field of play when a goal is scored only if the person affected the play, e.g., the Law does not expect the referee to penalise encroachment onto the field of play if it does not impact the play
Law 6 – The Other Match Officials
• Reserve assistant referee (RAR) is now permitted to assist the referee in the same way as the other ‘on-field’ match officials
Law 7 – The Duration of the Match
• Goal celebrations will be listed separately to emphasise that theyoften result in a significant amount of time being lost, for which the referee makes allowance.
Law 10 – Determining the Outcome of a Match
• The term ‘kicks from the penalty mark’ is outdated and will be replaced by ‘penalties (penalty shoot-out)’
• Clarification that warnings and cautions for team officials, as well as for players, are not carried forward into penalties (penalty shoot-out)
Law 11 – Offside
• The additional wording clarifies the guidelines for distinguishing between ‘deliberate play’ and ‘deflection’ based on the expectation that a player who is clearly in an offside position should not become onside on all occasions when an opponent moves and touches the ball, as outlined in circular 26 (July 2022)
Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct
• It is not always clear whether an action was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball (or both). The same principle should apply for challenging for the ball as attempting to play the ball. Clarification that if the referee awards a penalty kick for an offence which involved a defending team player challenging an opponent for the ball (excluding holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.), the same sanction should be issued to the player as for an attempt to play the ball, i.e., if the offence stops or interferes with a promising attack – no caution (no yellow card); DOGSO offence – caution (yellow card)
• Clarification that the senior team official can be sanctioned only for an offence committed by an ‘unidentified offender’ who is in/from the technical area, i.e., this does not apply to an offence committed by an ‘unidentified player’
Law 14 – The Penalty Kick
• Clarification that the goalkeeper must not behave in a manner that fails to show respect for the game and the opponent, i.e., by unfairly distracting the kicker
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocol
• Amended wording reflects the VAR ‘light’ system, which does not involve a replay operator.
Source: IFAB
