Outline summary

of Law changes
Law 3 – The Players
• Clarification relating to extra person(s) on the field of play when a goal is
scored

Law 6 – The Other Match Officials

• Reserve assistant referee (RAR) 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’ to become a separate bullet point in the list of causes of
time lost for which the referee makes allowance

Law 10 – Determining the Outcome of a Match

• The term ‘kicks from the penalty mark’ to be replaced by ‘penalties (penalty
shoot-out)’
• Clarification that warnings and cautions for team officials, as well as for

Law
players, are not carried forward into penalties (penalty shoot-out)

Law 11 – Offside
• Clarification of guidelines to distinguish between ‘deliberate play’ and

changes
‘deflection’, as outlined in circular 26 (July 2022)

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct

2023/24
• 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)

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 Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct
• Clarification that the senior team coach present in the technical area cannot
be sanctioned for 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

• Confirmation that the VAR ‘light’ system does not involve a replay operator
(RO)

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 Details of Explanation

all Law changes 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.

 he following are the changes to the Laws of the Game for the 2023/24 edition.
T
For each change, the amended or additional wording is provided together with Law 6 – The Other Match Officials
the previous wording, where appropriate, followed by an explanation of the Amended text
change. Other match officials (two assistant referees, a fourth official, two additional
Key assistant referees, a reserve assistant referee, a video assistant referee (VAR)
The main Law changes are underlined in yellow and highlighted in the margin. and at least one assistant VAR (AVAR)) may be appointed to matches. (...)
Editorial changes are underlined.
The referee, assistant referees, fourth official, additional assistant referees
YC = yellow card (caution); RC = red card (sending-off ). and reserve assistant referee are the ‘on-field’ match officials.
(…)
Law 3 – The Players With the exception of the reserve assistant referee, the, The other ‘on-field’
match officials assist the referee with offences when they have a clearer view
9. Goal scored with an extra person on the field of play
than the referee (…)
Additional text
If, after a goal is scored, the referee realises, before play restarts, that an Explanation
extra person was on the field of play when the goal was scored, and that
The use of reserve assistant referees has increased significantly, and it is
person interfered with play:
therefore logical that they should be able to give the same assistance to the
• the referee must disallow the goal if the extra person was:
referee as the other ‘on-field’ match officials.
· a player, substitute, substituted player, sent-off player or team official of
the team that scored the goal; play is restarted with a direct free kick
from the position of the extra person
· an outside agent who interfered with play unless a goal results as
outlined above in ‘Extra persons on the field of play’; play is restarted
with a dropped ball
• the referee must allow the goal if the extra person was:
· a player, substitute, substituted player, sent-off player or team official of
the team that conceded the goal
· an outside agent who did not interfere with play

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 Law 7 – The Duration of the Match Procedure
Before kicks from the penalty mark penalties (penalty shoot-out)
3. Allowance for time lost
• (…)
Amended text During kicks from the penalty mark penalties (penalty shoot-out)
Allowance is made by the referee in each half for all playing time lost in that half • (…)
through: Subject to the conditions explained below, both teams take five kicks
• substitutions • (...)
• (…) • Kicks from the penalty mark Penalties (penalty shoot-out) must not be
• goal celebrations delayed for a player who leaves the field of play. (…)
• any other cause, including any significant delay to a restart (e.g. goal Substitutions and sendings-off during kicks from the penalty mark
celebrationsdue to interference by an outside agent) penalties (penalty shoot-out)

Explanation The change from ‘kicks from the penalty mark’ to ‘penalties (penalty shoot-out)’
Goal celebrations will henceforth be listed separately to emphasise that they will also apply to the following:
often result in a significant amount of time being lost, for which the referee • Guidelines for temporary dismissals (sin bins)
makes allowance. • Law 2.2 – Replacement of a defective ball
• Law 3.5 – Offences and sanctions
• Law 5.3 – Powers and duties
Law 10 – Determining the Outcome of a Match
• Law 12.3 – Disciplinary action
2. Winning team • Glossary
Amended text • Practical guidelines for match officials
(…)
When competition rules require a winning team after a drawn match (…), the Explanation
only permitted procedures to determine the winning team are: • The term ‘kicks from the penalty mark’ is outdated and rarely used. Most
• away goals rule people refer to ‘penalties’ or a ‘penalty shoot-out’
• two equal periods of extra time not exceeding 15 minutes each • Clarification that warnings and cautions for team officials, as well as for
• kicks from the penalty mark penalties (penalty shoot-out) players, are not carried forward into penalties (penalty shoot-out)

A combination of the above procedures may be used.

3. Kicks from the penalty mark Penalties (penalty shoot-out)

Kicks from the penalty markPenalties (penalty shoot-out) are taken after the
match has ended (…); warnings and cautions issued to players and team officials
during the match are not carried forward into kicks from the penalty mark
penalties (penalty shoot-out).

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 Law 11 – Offside Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct
2. Offside offence 3. Disciplinary action
Additional text Additional text
(…) (…)
A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent who Cautions for unsporting behaviour
deliberately plays played* the ball, including by deliberate handball, is not There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for
considered to have gained an advantage, unless it was a deliberate save by any unsporting behaviour, including if a player:
opponent. • (…)
*‘Deliberate play’ (excluding deliberate handball) is when a player has control of • handles the ball to interfere with or stop a promising attack
the ball with the possibility of: • commits any other offence which interferes with or stops a promising attack,
• passing the ball to a team-mate; except where the referee awards a penalty kick for an offence which was an
• gaining possession of the ball; or attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball
• clearing the ball (e.g. by kicking or heading it) • denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing an
If the pass, attempt to gain possession or clearance by the player in control of offence which was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball and
the ball is inaccurate or unsuccessful, this does not negate the fact that the the referee awards a penalty kick
player ‘deliberately played’ the ball. (...)
The following criteria should be used, as appropriate, as indicators that a player Denying an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)
was in control of the ball and, as a result, can be considered to have ‘deliberately Where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own
played’ the ball: penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and
• The ball travelled from distance and the player had a clear view of it the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence was an
• The ball was not moving quickly attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball; in all other circumstances
• The direction of the ball was not unexpected (e.g. holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.), the offending
• The player had time to coordinate their body movement, i.e. it was not a case player must be sent off.
of instinctive stretching or jumping, or a movement that achieved limited
contact/control
Explanation
• A ball moving on the ground is easier to play than a ball in the air
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
Explanation
for the ball as attempting to play the ball. Where the referee awards a penalty for
The additional wording clarifies the guidelines for distinguishing between a DOGSO offence, the offending player is only sent off if the offence was
‘deliberate play’ and ‘deflection’ based on the expectation that a player who is committed without the possibility to play the ball.
clearly in an offside position should not become onside on all occasions when an
opponent moves and touches the ball. This wording was published in The IFAB’s
circular 26 (July 2022).

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 Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct Video assistant referee (VAR) protocol
3. Disciplinary action 3. Practicalities
Additional text Amended text
(…) The use of VARs during a match involves the following practical arrangements:
Team officials • The VAR watches the match in the video operation room (VOR) assisted by one
Where an offence is committed by someone from the technical area (substitute, or more assistant VARs (AVARs)and replay operator (RO)
substituted player, sent-off player or team official) and the offender cannot be • Depending on the number of camera angles (and other considerations), there
identified, the senior team coach present in the technical area will receive the may be more than one AVAR and one or more replay operators (ROs)
sanction. • (…)

Explanation Explanation

Clarification that the senior team official can be sanctioned only for an offence Amended wording reflects the VAR ‘light’ system, which does not involve a
committed by an ‘unidentified offender’ who is in/from the technical area, i.e. replay operator.
this does not apply to an offence committed by an ‘unidentified player’.

Law 14 – The Penalty Kick

1. Procedure
Additional text
(…)
The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker,
between the goalposts, without touching the goalposts, crossbar or goal net,
until the ball has beenis kicked. The goalkeeper must not behave in a way that
unfairly distracts the kicker, e.g. delay the taking of the kick or touch the
goalposts, crossbar or goal net.

Explanation
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.

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