The IFAB

We are The IFAB. We govern and develop the Laws of the Game of association football. Follow the news!

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

IFAB advisory panels continue their focus on tempo disruption

➡️ News release: https://t.co/BuJ7aZy2h3

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

According to Law 3, a match may not continue if either team has fewer than seven players; however, this principle does NOT apply where this is temporary because:
➡️ a player is temporarily dismissed
➡️ a substitute’s entry is delayed for one minute
➡️ a player is off the field of play for/after treatment

In all these cases, play continues and the team plays with fewer than seven players.

Find out more:

Law 3.1: https://t.co/8reMUXwJHr
Guidelines for temporary dismissals: https://t.co/W1mYRAtu6N
Time-limited substitution protocol: https://t.co/Vje4E0ORTv
Off-field treatment and assessment protocol: https://t.co/WU4n7MfXJj
Circular 33 (May 2026): https://t.co/vNoAGLOx7X

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

LAW CHANGES 2026/27

When the ball is in play, a player kicks the ball out for a throw-in because their team-mate is laying on the ground, holding their leg, and seems to be injured.

What is the correct procedure?

➡️ https://t.co/7qMhkdxoLB
➡️ https://t.co/WU4n7MfpTL

Download the official Laws of the Game app: https://t.co/qdaCeW8Hab

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

After a substitution has been signalled, the player concerned refuses to be substituted and does not leave the field of play.

What should the #referee do?

https://t.co/3cVmb8Vt8e

Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ https://t.co/3P9d7LeIJd
➡️ https://t.co/AAObofMy5p

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

If the #referee stops play because a player has an actual or suspected head injury, the player:
➡️ may be assessed and treated on the field of play
➡️ must then leave the field of play

The following procedure will depend on the exact circumstances:

1. Play is stopped quickly due to a potential head injury, but it is immediately clear that the injury is not severe, and no assessment/requirement is required.

As the suspected head injury caused the game to be stopped, the player must still leave the field of play; however, competition organisers may decide that the player may be given permission to return by the referee after play restarts without having to wait one minute off the field of play.

2. Play is stopped for a head injury, and a player receives assessment/treatment on the field of play.

In this case, the player is required to leave the field of play for one minute. This period is important to medically evaluate whether it is safe for the player to continue playing.

3. Play is stopped for a head injury, and a player is unable to continue, so their team decides to make a substitution (e.g. when the player suffers an actual or suspected concussion).

The injured player may be replaced by a normal substitute or a concussion substitute, where the use of additional permanent concussion substitutions is allowed by the competition organiser (in accordance with The IFAB’s protocol).

Find out more:
➡️ Law 5.3: https://t.co/7qMhkdxWB9
➡️ Off-field treatment and assessment protocol: https://t.co/WU4n7MfXJj
➡️ Additional permanent concussion substitutions protocol: https://t.co/iIQsSbO3au
➡️ Circular 34 (July 2026): https://t.co/aime873RmU

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

LAW CHANGES 2026/27

The #referee stops play for a careless tackle, awards a free kick, and approaches the player who has been fouled and has gone down following the challenge. The referee asks the player if they require medical attention, but the player indicates that no assessment or treatment is needed and then quickly gets up from the ground.

Is the player required to leave the field of play?

➡️ https://t.co/7qMhkdxoLB
➡️ https://t.co/WU4n7MfpTL

Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ https://t.co/BwKFiVQuwn
➡️ https://t.co/jkJetKEFxU

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

Correct.

In this case, the goalkeeper is shown a second yellow card and is sent off (red card). As this offence occurs before the substitution has taken place, the substitution is cancelled and the team plays with one player less.

One of the outfield players must become the goalkeeper or be substituted to allow the substitute goalkeeper to play.

Best regards, The IFAB

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

LAW CHANGES 2026/27

Before the end of the half, a team’s coach decides to replace the goalkeeper with a substitute goalkeeper for tactical reasons. Once the substitution board is shown, the goalkeeper excessively delays the substitution and has not left the field of play within ten seconds.

What is the correct procedure if the goalkeeper being substituted has not been cautioned earlier in the match?

Find out more:
➡️ Time-limited substitution protocol: https://t.co/Vje4E0ORTv
➡️ Circular 34 (July 2026): https://t.co/aime873RmU

Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ https://t.co/BwKFiVR2lV
➡️ https://t.co/jkJetKFdns

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

@BolduDarius Thank you for your question.

The kick is retaken as the goalkeeper’s offence (e.g. encroachment) may have impacted the kicker possibly causing them to slip.

Best regards, The IFAB

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

LAW CHANGES 2026/27

A player slips while taking a penalty kick. The ball accidentally touches the player’s non-kicking foot/leg immediately after the kick, and the goalkeeper makes a save (the ball does not enter the goal and rebounds into the field).

What is the decision if the goalkeeper has not committed any offence?

➡️ https://t.co/ho5TvIPWpx
➡️ https://t.co/rD22abB7PT

Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ https://t.co/BwKFiVR2lV
➡️ https://t.co/jkJetKFdns

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

LAW CHANGES 2026/27

An attacker (Team A) and a defender (Team B) collide while fairly challenging for the ball, fall to the ground, and need attention. The #referee stops play, allows the injured players to be assessed on the field of play, and then requires both to leave for one minute.

What should happen if Team A immediately decides to substitute the injured attacker while the Team B defender is able to continue?

➡️ https://t.co/7qMhkdxoLB
➡️ https://t.co/WU4n7MfpTL

Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ https://t.co/BwKFiVQuwn
➡️ https://t.co/jkJetKEFxU

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

LAW CHANGES 2026/27

A goalkeeper (Team A) and an attacker (Team B) collide while jumping for the ball. Although no foul is committed, the #referee stops play after seeing that both players have fallen to the ground. The goalkeeper is able to continue and does not need medical attention; however, the attacker is seriously injured and requires treatment on the field of play.

What is the correct procedure?

️➡️ https://t.co/7qMhkdxoLB
➡️ https://t.co/WU4n7MfpTL
➡️ https://t.co/kTm2yciX3Z

Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ https://t.co/BwKFiVQuwn
➡️ https://t.co/jkJetKEFxU

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

If the referee has stopped play, it must be restarted:
➡️ with a direct free kick from the position of the interference
➡️ with an indirect free kick from the position of the ball when play was stopped if there was no interference

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

Except certain circumstances, where an injury results in play being stopped or the restart of play being delayed, the injured player must leave the field of play and may only re-enter:
✅ one minute after play has restarted (running clock)
✅ with the referee’s permission (the signal can be given during play)

The re-entry is:
➡️ from the touchline – if the ball is in play
➡️ from any boundary line (touchline or goal line) – if the ball is out of play

Find out more:
➡️ https://t.co/7qMhkdxoLB
➡️ https://t.co/WU4n7MfpTL

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

If an injured player re-enters the field without permission, the #referee must:
➡️ stop play (not immediately if the player does not interfere with play or a match official or if the advantage can be applied)
➡️ caution (yellow card) the player for re-entering without permission

In addition, the player is usually required to leave the field of play and remain off until the remaining time has been completed and permission to return has been given.

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

@CornishAndy59 @FR_jongewoud This was brought in to stop time-wasting at ALL LEVELS of the game. Occasionally, a Law may create an unfairness but football requests and strongly prefers simple Laws rather than having a lot of exceptions/discretion.

Best regards, The IFAB

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

Where a player or substitute is required to remain off the field of play for one minute and the first half ends before one minute has elapsed, they may enter the field of play at the beginning of the second half.

This principle also applies to:
➡️ the period between the end of normal time and the start of extra time
➡️ half-time in extra time
➡️ the period between the end of extra time and penalties (penalty shoot-out)

Find out more:

Off-field treatment and assessment protocol: https://t.co/WU4n7MfpTL

Time-limited substitution protocol: https://t.co/Vje4E0Ok3X

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

LAW CHANGES 2026/27

A defending team player deliberately handles the ball within their penalty area and thus prevents the ball from entering the goal. After that, the ball goes to an attacking team player who scores a goal.

What is the correct decision?

https://t.co/sIr77TcuGP

Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ https://t.co/BwKFiVQuwn
➡️ https://t.co/jkJetKEFxU

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

The #referee cannot apply the advantage when:
➡️ the wrong team takes the restart
➡️ the ball does not touch the ground at a dropped ball
➡️ the ball touches the ground before entering the field of play at a throw-in
➡️ the ball is not kicked at a ‘kicked’ restart, i.e. it is not played with the foot/ankle
➡️ the ball does not clearly move at a ‘kicked’ restart

In these cases, the restart of play must be retaken.

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

The #referee may apply advantage when a team incorrectly takes a restart if:
✅ the ball is in play and
✅ the opposing team can benefit (e.g. they gain possession)

The main situations where advantage can be played include:
➡️ incorrect position of the restart
➡️ moving ball
➡️ incorrect throw-in, e.g. the player has one/both feet off the ground or fully inside the field of play (not touching the line) at the moment of delivering the ball

[The IFAB @TheIFAB]

LAW CHANGES 2026/27

The ball is kicked by a Team A player and is going to a Team B player when it deflects off the #referee to another Team A player rather than to the Team B player. The Team A player immediately creates a promising attack for their team.

What is the decision?

➡️ https://t.co/XzNZcMId5t
➡️ https://t.co/kTm2yciX3Z

Download the official Laws of the Game app:
➡️ https://t.co/BwKFiVQuwn
➡️ https://t.co/jkJetKEFxU