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The IFAB

Our mission is to serve the world of football as the independent guardian of the Laws of the Game.

The IFAB is the universal decision-making body for the Laws of the Game (LoG) of association football. Its objectives are to safeguard, compile and amend the LoG as they apply within the scope of world football and to ensure that the LoG are uniformly applied worldwide and monitored accordingly, and that organised football is practised consistently. Further information on The IFAB is available on

www.theifab.com, including a comprehensive explanation of The IFAB and its administration, the Laws of the Game and any other related official documentation and communication.

15/09/2026

It is often misunderstood that any foul or handball offence committed by a goalkeeper outside their penalty area is punished with a card. When is the goalkeeper cautioned (yellow card) or sent off (red card) under the Laws of the Game?

A goalkeeper is allowed to take part in play outside their penalty area, however, Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct clearly states that the goalkeeper has the same restrictions on handling the ball as any other player.

1️⃣ TACTICAL IMPACT

A handball offence committed by the goalkeeper outside their penalty area is a direct free kick offence, however, it does not warrant a card in itself.

Illegal use of the hand/arm outside the goalkeeper’s penalty area is treated like any other offence (e.g. a foul) and requires a disciplinary sanction when it:
➡ stops a promising attack (SPA) – yellow card
➡ denies an opponent or the opposing team an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) – red card

The fact that the goalkeeper commited the offence outside their penalty area does not automatically mean that it is a SPA or DOGSO offence. Each situation must be judged by the referee depending on the exact circumstances.

2️⃣ PHYSICAL SEVERITY

A player, including the goalkeeper, who commits a cautionable or sending-off offence is disciplined according to the offence.

Regardless of where a physical offence is committed, the goalkeeper is shown:
➡ a yellow card for a reckless foul
➡ a red card for serious foul play or violent conduct

It does not matter if the offence occurs outside or inside the goalkeeper’s penalty area, as the appropriate card is for the physical severity of the offence, not because of its tactical impact.

If the foul is only careless and it is not a SPA/DOGSO offence, there is no disciplinary sanction for the goalkeeper.

14/09/2026

LAW CHANGES 2026/27: While taking a penalty kick, a player kicks the ball with their right foot in such a way that the ball clearly moves, accidentally touches the player’s left foot and then enters the goal from the kick.

What is the correct decision?

09/09/2026

LAW CHANGES 2026/27: When the substitution board is being shown, the player being substituted is on the far side of the field of play, close to the touchline. After the referee signals for the substitution to take place, the player walks slowly towards the substitute who is at the halfway line.

What is the correct procedure?

08/09/2026

The Laws of the Game 2026/27 are now also available in Traditional Chinese!
➡ Mobile app: bit.ly/Laws_App_
➡ PDF: bit.ly/Laws_PDF_26_27

07/09/2026

LAW CHANGES 2026/27: A player of Team A kicks the ball towards a team-mate. The ball moves quickly on the ground and is heading out for a throw-in when it deflects off an assistant referee who is standing on the touchline. As a result, the ball remains on the field of play and is then controlled by another Team A player who starts a promising attack.

What is the correct decision?

02/09/2026

LAW CHANGES 2026/27: The referee stops play and awards a free kick for a careless tackle. As the offence was committed close to the touchline, the fouled player, who is injured, voluntarily leaves the field of play during a stoppage to avoid delaying the restart of play by their team.

What is the correct procedure?

01/09/2026

If the player being substituted has not left the field of play within the required ten seconds:
➡ they must still leave as quickly as possible, usually by the nearest point on the boundary line
➡ play restarts
➡ the substitute may enter the field of play only with the referee’s permission during the first stoppage after one minute has elapsed following the restart

Where the entry of the substitute is delayed because the player being substituted exceeded the ten-second limit*, the substitution procedure is considered to be completed when the player being substituted leaves the field of play. From that moment:
➡ the player becomes a ‘substituted player’
➡ the substitution cannot be cancelled nor a different substitute used, as the administrative part of the substitution is completed
➡ the substitute is considered a ‘player’, even if their entry onto the field of play is delayed because the substituted player took too long leaving

Therefore:
➡ if the player being substituted commits a sending-off offence:
– before leaving the field of play, the player must be sent off and cannot be replaced/substituted
– after leaving the field of play, the player must be sent off but the substitute can still enter after the one-minute period
➡ if the substitute commits a sending-off offence:
– before the player being substituted leaves the field of play, the substitute must be sent off but another substitute (if available) may enter after the one-minute period
– after the player being substituted has left the field of play, the substitute must be sent off and cannot be replaced

*If a goalkeeper who is being substituted exceeds the ten-second limit, the substitute goalkeeper’s entry is not delayed (as Law 3 requires each team to have a goalkeeper) but the goalkeeper being substituted is cautioned (yellow card) for delaying the restart of play.

31/08/2026

LAW CHANGES 2026/27: A player takes a free kick while the ball is moving and attempts to make a short pass to a team-mate. However, the pass is weak and inaccurate, so the opposing team intercepts the ball and gains possession.

What should the referee decide?

26/08/2026

When a player is on the ground injured while play continues and this is clearly affecting the play/players, the referee is advised to stop play before another player (of either team) puts the ball out of play. The injured player must then leave the field of play for/after treatment and may only re-enter one minute after play has restarted.

If a team-mate puts the ball out of play to stop the game, the injured player should be required to leave the field of play for one minute.

If an opponent puts the ball out of play to stop the game and the player immediately stands up, the referee may:
➡ decide that the injured player is not required to leave the field of play for one minute. This is to prevent a player deliberately putting the ball out of play so their opponents play with one player less for a minute
➡ require the injured player to leave the field of play for one minute if the referee judges that the player (or their team-mates) were deliberately trying to get play stopped unfairly

25/08/2026

LAW CHANGES 2026/27: The referee notices that a player is wearing small earrings during a match. What is the correct procedure?

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