Mexico Soccer Team Rules

Mexican soccer falls under the jurisdiction of the Mexican Football Federation (FEMEXFUT) and the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA). Soccer rules in Mexico are the same as in the rest of the world of professional soccer. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), a governing body within the FIFA, regulates the rules.

  1. Game Duration

    • Soccer games are divided into two halves of 45 minutes each, with a 15-minute halftime break.

    Referees

    • All referees in Mexico must be approved by the FEMEXFUT. The main referee is on the field, while two assistant referees work the lines on either side of the field.

    Equipment and Uniforms

    • Soccer teams must meet FIFA regulations. All players must wear shirts, shorts, socks, cleats and shin guards. FIFA regulations mandate that any player who removes his team uniform shirt completely or lifts his shirt up to show another shirt underneath receives a yellow card. This rule created a controversy in Mexico when it was first implemented, because many players like to take off their team shirts after a goal and wave them joyfully in the air. Other players like to lift up their team shirts to reveal T-shirts with special messages to loved ones.

    Offsides

    • The offsides rule is one of the most controversial rules in soccer. The offsides rule is called when a player receives a pass while he is ahead of the second-to-last defender of the opposing team. If the player scores when offsides is called by a referee, the goal doesn't count.

    Yellow Cards and Red Cards

    • A player gets a yellow card for bad conduct on the field. Bad conduct is anything from committing a foul against another player to rude and disrespectful behavior on the field. Two yellow cards result in a red card and the player is kicked out of the game.

    Tiebreakers

    • During the regular season of the Mexican soccer league, ties do not go into overtime or penalty kicks. Ties during championship games result in two 15-minute overtime periods. If the tie continues, the teams turn to penalty kicks to establish a winner.

    Naturalized Players

    • In 2004, a controversial change by the FEMEXFUT allowed naturalized Mexican citizens to play on both professional teams and the Mexican National team. The Chivas of Guadalajara is the only professional team in Mexico that doesn't allow naturalized Mexican players.