Circular n° 710

Zurich, 27 March 2000

GS/rra

Dear General Secretary,

Amendments to the 2000 Laws of the Game

The 114th Annual Meeting of the International Football Association Board was held in Cliveden (England) on 19 February 2000. A number of proposals for changes to the Laws had been put forward for discussion. The actual amendments are now listed below.

I. AMENDMENTS TO THE LAWS OF THE GAME

1. Law 1 – The Field of Play

New Decision 4:

(Present Decisions 4 and 5 become Decisions 5 and 6 respectively)

There shall be no advertising of any kind within the technical area or within one metre from the touch line and outside the field of play on the ground.

Further, no advertising shall be allowed in the area between the goal line and the goal nets.

Reason:

This clarifies the situation regarding limiting possible advertising around the field of play. It does not permit advertising on the ground within the technical area but does not forbid, for example, advertising on the perspex cover over the trainer’s bench in the technical area.

Law 3 - The Number of Players

New text:

Other matches:

In other matches, substitutes may be used provided that

the teams concerned reach an agreement on a maximum number
the referee is informed before the match

If the referee is not informed, or if no agreement is reached before the start of the match, no more than three substitutes are allowed.

Reason:

This new text gives teams flexibility in the number of substitutes permitted in friendly matches but the previous controls regarding teams reaching agreement on the numbers to be permitted and on the need for the referee to be informed before the match still remain.

Law 3 – The Number of Players

New Decision 2:

The coach may convey tactical instructions to the players during the match and he must return to his position immediately after giving these instructions. He and the other officials must remain within the confines of the technical area, where such an area is provided, and they must behave in a responsible manner.

Reason:

This is a simple addition, which brings the text of International F.A Board Decision 2 into line with the present text concerning the technical area.

Law 6 – The Assistant Referees

New text:

Duties:

Two assistant referees are appointed whose duties, subject to the decision of the referee, are to indicate:

when the whole of the ball has passed out of the field of play
which side is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or throw-in
when a player may be penalised for being in an offside position
when a substitution is requested
when misconduct or any other incident has occurred out of the view of the referee

when offences have been committed whenever the assistants are closer to the action than the referee (this includes, in particular circumstances, offences committed in the penalty area)

whether, at penalty kicks, the goalkeeper has moved forward before the ball has been kicked and if the ball has crossed the line

Assistance:

The assistant referees also assist the referee to control the match in accordance with the Laws of the Game. In particular, they may enter the field of play to help control the 9.15m distance.

Reason:

The duties of the assistant referee are now more clearly defined in the Laws of the Game and increase his responsibility. Assistant referees are expected to give assistance to the referee when they are in a better position to see the incident, especially for incidents inside the penalty area.

It is important to understand that the specific distance from the offence is not the main criteria. The most important consideration is that the assistant referee has a better view of an incident.

Assistant referees are also expected to indicate to the referee when the goalkeeper moves forward from his goal line at a penalty kick and the ball does not enter the goal. The nature of the signal to be given is to be determined by the officials in pre-match discussions.

At penalty kicks, assistant referees are also responsible for judging whether the ball has crossed the goal line.

Assistant referees are also instructed that, whenever necessary, they should enter the field of play to ensure that the 9.15m distance is respected for free kicks taken near to where they are positioned.

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct

New text:

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following five offences:

takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession

(Rest of text unchanged)

Reason:

This change means that time-wasting by the goalkeeper with the ball in his hands or arms is now measured in time rather than distance. The Law no longer limits the goalkeeper to taking four steps when he has control of the ball in his hands or arms. He is allowed to carry the ball for a maximum of six seconds but may take as many steps as he wishes within this period.

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct

New text:

Sending-off offences n°6:

uses offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures

Reason:

A player may now be sent off if, in the opinion of the referee, he is guilty of using language or gestures which are offensive or insulting or abusive. The referee must take into account the severity of the offence.

He continues to have the authority to decide whether, in his opinion, a player’s unacceptable language or gestures are to be deemed a sending-off offence.

Kicks from the Penalty Mark:

New bullet points:

When a team finishes the match with a greater number of players than their opponents, they shall reduce their numbers to equate with that of their opponents and inform the referee of the name and number of each player excluded. The team captain has this responsibility.

Before the start of kicks from the penalty mark the referee shall ensure that only an equal number of players from each team remain within the centre circle and they shall take the kicks

Reason:

This arrangement for kicks from the penalty mark is applied at the end of play when one team has fewer players on the field of play than the other because of expulsion or injury and all eligible substitutes have been used.

The team with more players will be permitted to reduce their number of players to equate with the other team. This is to avert the situation where, all the players in the team with fewer players have taken their kicks, their strongest kicker would be advantaged by being matched against the weakest kicker of the team with more players.

The team captain is responsible for informing the referee of the name and number of the player(s) who will not take kicks from the penalty mark.

Fourth Official

Amendments to bullet point:

The Fourth Official assists the referee at all times. He must indicate to the referee when the wrong player is cautioned because of mistaken identity or when a player is not sent off having been seen to be given a second caution or when violent conduct occurs out of the view of the referee and assistant referees. The referee, however, retains the authority to decide on all points connected with play.

Reason:

The new text increases the authority of the Fourth Official and allows him to take action in situations not concerned with actual play.

Furthermore, the International F.A. Board expressed its concern at the widespread failure of referees to apply the Laws of the Game when a penalty kick is being taken. Referees must be prepared to take action against a player(s) entering the penalty area before a penalty kick is taken. According to the Laws of the Game it is not necessary to caution a player guilty of this offence but the referee must be prepared to order the kick to be re-taken in appropriate circumstances.

The amendments to the Laws will come into force on 1 July 2000.

We wish to thank you for your attention to the foregoing.

Yours faithfully,

FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE

DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

Michel Zen-Ruffinen

General Secretary