Official Rules of FIFA Soccer

The official Federation International de Football Association (FIFA) rules of soccer, known as the Laws of the Game, were originally drawn up by the English Football Association in the 1860s. A number of changes have occurred since then, but the basic principals remain the same.

  1. Periods of Play

    • A standard soccer match is divided into two halves of 45 minutes each, separated by a half-time interval of 15 minutes. The referee can add time onto the end of each half to account for time lost due to injuries and other stoppages in regular time. Two periods of extra time, each 15 minutes long, are often added to matches in cup competitions if the score is tied after the regulation minutes. Penalty kicks are then used to decide the winner if the game remains tied after extra time.

    Ball Out of Play

    • The game is stopped each time the ball leaves the field of play. The game is restarted with a throw-in if the ball crosses either of the side lines. If the ball leaves the pitch by crossing either of the end lines then a goal-kick or corner is required. If a team kicks the ball across its own end line then a corner is awarded to the opposition. In all other circumstances a goal kick is awarded to the defending team.

    Substitutions

    • A maximum of three substitutes can be used in any officially sanctioned FIFA competition. The number of substitutions can be increased for friendly games and warm-up matches.

    Offside

    • The official FIFA Laws of the Game state that a player is offside when “he is nearer to his opponents’ goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent” at the moment the ball is passed to him. The offside law is subject to a degree of interpretation by the referee. If the referee determines that an attacking player is not interfering with play or not gaining an advantage by being in that position then he will not be penalized. A player cannot be offside from a goal kick, a throw-in or a corner.

    Free Kick

    • Fouls and misconduct are penalized by awarding a free kick to the opposition. The ball is placed in the area where the foul was committed. A direct free kick, where the ball can be struck directly at goal without first being played to another player, is awarded for serious offences. Lesser offences are penalized by indirect free kicks that require the ball to be played to a team member before taking a shot at goal.

    Penalty Kick

    • A penalty kick is awarded to the opposition when a player commits a foul within his own penalty area. The ball is placed upon the penalty spot and an attacking team player has a free shot on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat.

    Discipline

    • A player can be cautioned by the referee for a number of offences such as unsporting behavior or persistent fouling. When a player is cautioned he is shown a yellow card by the referee. Serious infringements, such as violent conduct or handling the ball to prevent a goal, are punished with a red card which results in the player being sent from the field of play, leaving the offending team with one less player. If a player receives two yellow cards he is also sent off.

    Jewelry

    • Players are not allowed to wear jewelry during a soccer match. According to the Laws of the Game, items such as necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands and rubber bands are strictly forbidden and must be removed.