soccer rules

The Duration of the Match
Periods of Play
The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the referee and the two participating teams. Any agreement to alter the periods of play (for example to reduce each half to 40 minutes because of insufficient light) must be made before the start of play and must comply with competition rules.

Half-Time Interval
Players are entitled to an interval at half-time.
The half-time interval must not exceed 15 minutes.
Competition rules must state the duration of the half-time interval.
The duration of the half-time interval may be altered only with the consent of the referee.
Allowance for Time Lost
Allowance is made in either period for all time lost through:
substitution(s)
assessment of injury to players
removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment
wasting time
any other cause The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.
Penalty Kick
If a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken, the duration of either half is extended until the penalty kick is completed.
Extra Time
Competition rules may provide for two further equal periods to be played. The conditions of Law 8 will apply.
Abandoned Match
An abandoned match is replayed unless the competition rules provide otherwise.

The Number of Players
Players
A match is played by two teams, each consisting of not more than eleven players, one of whom is the goalkeeper. A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than seven players.
Official Competitions
Up to a maximum of three substitutes may be used in any match played in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA, the confederations or the national associations.
The rules of the competition must state how many substitutes may be nominated, from three up to a maximum of seven.
Other Matches
In other matches, up to five substitutes may be used, provided that: the teams concerned reach 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.
All Matches
In all matches the names of the substitutes must be given to the referee prior to the start of the match. Substitutes not so named may not take part in the match.

Substitution Procedure
To replace a player by a substitute, the following conditions must be observed:
the referee is informed before any proposed substitution is made
a substitute only enters the field of play after the player being replaced has left and after receiving a signal from the referee
a substitute only enters the field of play at the halfway line and during a stoppage in the match
a substitution is completed when a substitute enters the field of play
from that moment, the substitute becomes a player and the player he has replaced ceases to be a player
a player who has been replaced takes no further part in the match
all substitutes are subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the referee, whether called upon to play or not
Changing the Goalkeeper
Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper, provided that:
the referee is informed before the change is made
the change is made during a stoppage in the match
Infringements/Sanctions
If a substitute enters the field of play without the referee's permission:
play is stopped
the substitute is cautioned, shown the yellow card and required to leave the field of play
play is restarted with a dropped ball at the place it was located when play was stopped *(see preface)
If a player changes places with the goalkeeper without the referee's permission before the change is made:
play continues
the players concerned are cautioned and shown the yellow card when the ball is next out of play
For any other infringements of this Law:
the players concerned are cautioned and shown the yellow card
Restart of PlayIf play is stopped by the referee to administer a caution:
the match is restarted by an indirect free kick, to be taken by a player of the opposing team from the place where the ball was located when play was stopped * (see preface)
Players and Substitutes Sent Off
A player who has been sent off before the kick-off may be replaced only by one of the named substitutes.
A named substitute who has been sent off, either before the kick-off or after play has started, may not be replaced.
DECISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL F.A. BOARD
1.Subject to the overriding conditions of Law 3, the minimum number of players in a team is left to the discretion of national associations. The Board is of the opinion, however, that a match should not continue if there are fewer than seven players in either team.
2.A team official may convey tactical instructions to the players during the match and he must return to his position after giving these instructions. All officials must remain within the confines of the technical area, where such an area is provided, and they must behave in a responsible manner.

The Ball
Qualities and Measurements
The ball is:
spherical
made of leather or other suitable material
of a circumference of not more than 70 cm (28 ins) and not less than 6 8 cm (27 ins)
not more than 450 g (16 oz) in weight and not less than 410 g (14 oz) at the start of the match
of a pressure equal to 0.6 - 1.1 atmosphere (600 - 1100 g/cm2) at sea level (8.5 lbs/sq in 15.6 lbs/sq in)
Replacement of a Defective Ball
If the ball bursts or becomes defective during the course of a match:
the match is stopped
the match is restarted by dropping the replacement ball at the place where the first ball became defective*(see preface)
If the ball bursts or becomes defective whilst not in play at a kick-off, goal kick, corner kick, free kick, penalty kick or throw-in:
the match is restarted accordingly
The ball may not be changed during the match without the authority of the referee.
DECISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL F.A. BOARD
1.In competition matches, only footballs which meet the minimum technical requirements stipulated in Law 2 are permitted for use.
In FIFA competition matches, and in competition matches organised under the auspices of the confederations, acceptance of a football for use is conditional upon the football bearing one of the following three designations:

the official "FIFA APPROVED" logo,
or
the official "FIFA INSPECTED" logo,
or
the reference "International Matchball Standard"
Such a designation on a football indicates that it has been tested officially and found to be in compliance with specific technical requirements, different for each category and additional to the minimum specifications stipulated in Law 2. The list of the additional requirements specific to each of the respective categories must be approved by the International F.A. Board. The institutes conducting the tests are subject to the approval of FIFA.
National association competitions may require the use of balls bearing any one of these three designations.
In all other matches the ball used must satisfy the requirements of Law 2.
2.In FIFA competition matches and in competition matches organised under the auspices of the confederations and national associations, no kind of commercial advertising on the ball is permitted, except for the emblem of the competition, the competition organiser and the authorised trademark of the manufacturer. The competition regulations may restrict the size and number of such markings.

I - The Field of Play
Dimensions
The field of play must be rectangular. The length of the touch line must be greater than the length of the goal line.
Length: minimum 90 m (100 yds), maximum 120 m (130 yds) Width: minimum 45 m (50 yds), maximum 90 m (100 yds)
International Matches
Length: minimum 100 m (110 yds), maximum 110 m (120 yds) Width: minimum 64 m (70 yds), maximum 75 m (80 yds)

Field Markings
The field of play is marked with lines. These lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries.
The two longer boundary lines are called touch lines. The two shorter lines are called goal lines.
All lines are not more than 12 cm (5 ins) wide.
The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway line.
The centre mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway line. A circle with a radius of 9.15 m (10 yds) is marked around it.
The Goal Area
A goal area is defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 5.5 m (6 yds) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of 5.5 m (6 yds) and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the goal area.
The Penalty Area
A penalty area is defined at each end of the field as follows: Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 16.5 m (18 yds) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend into the field of play for a distance of 16.5 m (18 yds) and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the penalty area.
Within each penalty area a penalty mark is made 11 m (12 yds) from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to them. An arc of a circle with a radius of 9.15 m (10 yds) from each penalty mark.is drawn outside the penalty area.

Flagposts
A flagpost, not less than 1.5 m (5 ft) high, with a non-pointed top and a flag is placed at each corner.
Flagposts may also be placed at each end of the halfway line, not less than 1m (1 yd) outside the touch line.
The Corner Arc
A quarter circle with a radius of 1 m (1 yd) from each corner flagpost is drawn inside the field of play.

Goals
Goals must be placed on the centre of each goal line.
They consist of two upright posts equidistant from the corner flagposts and joined at the top by a horizontal crossbar.
The distance between the posts is 7.32 m (8 yds) and the distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground is 2.44 m (8ft).
Both goalposts and the crossbar have the same width and depth which do not exceed 12 cm (5 ins). The goal lines are the same width as that of the goalposts and the crossbar. Nets may be attached to the goals and the ground behind the goal, provided that they are properly supported and do not interfere with the goalkeeper.
The goalposts and crossbars must be white.
Safety
Goals must be anchored securely to the ground. Portable goals may only be used if they satisfy this requirement.
DECISIONS OF THE INTERNATIONAL F.A. BOARD
1.If the crossbar becomes displaced or broken, play is stopped until it has been repaired or replaced in position. If a repair is not possible, the match is abandoned. The use of a rope to replace the crossbar is not permitted. If the crossbar can be repaired, the match is restarted with a dropped ball at the place where the ball was located when play was stopped. *(see preface)
2.Goalposts and crossbars must be made of wood, metal or other approved material. Their shape may be square, rectangular, round or elliptical and they must not be dangerous to players.
3.No kind of commercial advertising, whether real or virtual, is permitted on the field of play and field equipment (including the goal nets and the areas they enclose) from the time the teams enter the field of play until they have left it at half-time and from the time the teams re-enter the field of play until the end of the match. In particular, no advertising material of any kind may be displayed on goals, nets, flagposts or their flags. No extraneous equipment (cameras, microphones, etc.) may be attached to these items.
4. 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.
5.The reproduction, whether real or virtual, of representative logos or emblems of FIFA, confederations, national associations, leagues, clubs or other bodies, is forbidden on the field of play and field equipment (including the goal nets and the areas they enclose) during playing time, as described in Decision 3.
6.A mark may be made off the field of play, 9.15 metres (10 yds) from the corner arc and at right angles to the goal line to ensure that this distance is observed when a corner kick is being taken.