The decisions and instructions to referees contained herein
conform to the Laws of the Game, the decisions of the International F.A. Bo=
ard,
and guidance from USSF through its Advice to Referees, Guide to Procedures,=
and
various official memoranda. T=
his
document is therefore regarded as authoritative and may be quoted as such.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Decisions made during p=
lay
depend entirely on the opinion of the referee, who makes a decision at the =
time
of the incident. Coaches are
requested to inform their players of the points specified below and to ensu=
re
that every game is played sportingly.
Julie Ilacqua Managing Director of Referee Programs
Alfred Kleinaitis Manager of Referee Development and Education=
1. Serious Foul Play and Violent Conduct
Soccer is a tough, combative sport. The contest to gain possession of =
the
ball should nonetheless be fair and sporting. Any actions meeting these criteria=
, even
when vigorous, must be allowed by the referee.
Serious Foul Play and Violent Conduct are, however, strictly
forbidden and the referee must react to them by stringently applying the La=
ws
of the Game.
These two offenses can be defined as follows:
(a) It is seriou=
s foul
play when a player uses excessive force, formerly defined as
"disproportionate and unnecessary strength," when challenging for=
the
ball on the field against an opponent.&nbs=
p;
There can be no serious foul play against a teammate, the referee, an
assistant referee, a spectator, etc.
(b) It is violent
conduct when a player is guilty of aggression (excessive force or deliberate
violence) towards an opponent when they are not competing for the ball. It is also violent conduct if the
excessive force is used when the ball is not in play, if it is committed by=
a
substitute or substituted player, or if it is directed at anyone other than=
an
opponent (e. g., teammate, referee, assistant referee, coach, spectator,
etc.). If the violent conduct=
is
committed by a player against an opponent on the field during play, the res=
tart
is a direct free kick for the opposing team where the foul occurred (or a
penalty kick if it was committed by a player inside the player's penalty
area). If the violent conduct=
is by
a player during play against anyone on the field other than an opponent, the
restart is an indirect free kick where the misconduct occurred. If the violent conduct is committed
during a stoppage of play, the restart is not changed. A dropped ball where the ball was =
when play
is stopped is the correct restart if the violent conduct is committed during
play either off the field or by a substitute or substituted player.
2. Tackling
A tackle as such is not an infringement of the Laws of the
Game. It becomes an infringem=
ent
only if the tackler plays carelessly, recklessly, or with excessive force, =
or
places the opponent in danger.
(a) A sliding ta=
ckle
from the front or side, made with one or both legs, is permissible if, in t=
he
opinion of the referee, it is not dangerous. If, however, the player making=
the
tackle trips the opponent before, during, or after making contact with the
ball, the referee shall award a direct free kick to the opposing team. The referee must judge whether an
illegal trip occurred or whether the opponent fell over the leg of the play=
er
making a legal tackle.
(b) Tackling wit=
h the
foot lifted from the ground may be dangerous, whether contact is made with =
the
ball or not. Lifting of the f=
oot
should be penalized if the referee considers the player is endangering an
opponent by so doing. If the =
player
deliberately plays over the ball and makes contact with the opponent's leg,
this is serious foul play and must be sanctioned with a send-off (red card)=
and
a direct free kick (or a penalty kick, if appropriate).
(c) Tackling wit=
h two
feet together, studs up, if uncontrolled and from a distance, could be judg=
ed
as at least reckless and possibly dangerous to the opponent. If controlled and from a short dis=
tance,
there may be no danger.
(d) A tackle,
regardless of direction, which endangers the safety of an opponent must be
sanctioned as serious foul play. The player must be sent from the field (red
card) and play restarted with a direct free kick (or a penalty kick if
committed by a player inside the player's team's own penalty area).
3. Charging from
behind
Charging from behind is permissible only if the opponent is
intentionally impeding while shielding the ball. The charge, however, must =
be
made fairly and under no circumstances to the back (spinal area).
4. Reckless challenges
Referees should take stringent measures against players moving=
their
arms and elbows without due care, by applying the sanctions available to th=
em
under Law 12.
5. Offenses against goalkeepers
It is an offense if a player:
(a) jumps at a
goalkeeper under the pretext of heading the ball;
(b) moves or jum=
ps
about near a goalkeeper in order to distract or interfere with or prevent t=
he
goalkeeper from releasing the ball;
(c) who is stand=
ing in
front of a goalkeeper when a corner kick is being taken, takes advantage of=
the
position to impede the goalke=
eper
before the kick is taken and before the ball is in play;
(d) makes any pl=
ay for
the ball while the goalkeeper is still controlling it with the hands. Kicking or attempting to kick the =
ball
held by the goalkeeper is considered to be dangerous play.
6. Impeding the progress of an opponent
A player who has the ball under control within playing distance
(i.e., the distance at which the player is covering the ball for tactical
reasons in order to avoid its being played by an opponent, without using the
arms) is not guilty of impeding the progress of the opponent.
Any player who intentionally impedes the progress of an oppone=
nt
by crossing directly in front of or running between the opponent and the ba=
ll
or intervening so as to form an obstacle with the aim of delaying the oppon=
ent's
advance, must be sanctioned with an indirect free kick in favor of the oppo=
sing
team.
However, any player who intentionally impedes the progress of =
an
opponent by physical contact, whether using the hand, arm, leg, or any other
part of the body, shall be penalized for holding by the award of a direct f=
ree
kick to the opposing team, or by a penalty kick, if the offense was committ=
ed
within the player's team's penalty area.
7. Scissors or bicycle kick
Such a kick is permissible, provided that in the opinion of the
referee it is not dangerous to an opponent.
8. Jumping at an opponent
A player who jumps at an opponent under the pretext of heading=
the
ball shall be penalized by the award of a direct free kick to the opposing
team.
9. Prohibited use of body
A player who holds off an opponent using the hand, arm, leg, or
body (except through a legal charge) is guilty of an infringement of Law 12=
and
shall be punished by the award of a direct free kick to the opposing team.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Holding or hindering when the ball=
is
out of play in order to prevent the opponent from running into position is
misconduct and shall be penalized by a caution for unsporting behavior.
10. Caution for handling the ball or holding an opponent
A caution for unsporting behavior is appropriate if a player:<= o:p>
(a) holds an opp=
onent
to interfere with attacking play (e.g., prevents the opponent from getting =
to
the ball or pulls an opponent away from possession of the ball),
(b) handles the =
ball
to interfere with attacking play, or
(c) handles the =
ball
in an attempt to score a goal.
(Note: if handli=
ng the
ball or holding the opponent prevents a goal or interferes with a goalscori=
ng
opportunity, the offender must be shown the red card and sent off the field=
.)
11. Free kicks
A player who delays the restart of play or fails to respect the
required distance when play is being restarted must be cautioned.
12. Use of advantage
If the referee applies the advantage and the advantage which w=
as
anticipated does not develop after a short time, i.e., 2-3 seconds, and the
ball remains in play, the referee should immediately stop the game and pena=
lize
the original offense.
13. Denying a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity
(a) If, in the opinion of the referee, a player who is moving
towards the opponent's goal, with an obvious opportunity to score a goal, is
denied that goal scoring opportunity by an offense punishable by a free kic=
k or
penalty kick, the offending player shall be shown the red card and sent off=
the
field of play.
(b) If, in the opinion of the referee, a player, other than the
goalkeeper within the goalkeeper's own penalty area, deliberately handles t=
he
ball to prevent it from entering the goal and thus denies the opposing side=
a
goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity, the player shall be shown the =
red
card and sent off the field of play.
There need not be an opponent nearby with an opportunity to play the
ball.
14. Penalty kick
(a) Positioning of ball and players during a penalty kick
During a penalty kick, the goalkeeper shall stand on the goal
line. Apart from the goalkeep=
er and
the player taking the kick, all the players shall take up a position on the
field of play behind the penalty mark and outside the penalty area at least=
10
yards (9.15 m) from the penalty mark and stay there until the ball is in pl=
ay
(kicked and moved forward).
(b) Penalty kick at the end of a half or at the end of the mat=
ch
If play is prolonged before half-time or at the end of the mat=
ch
to allow for a penalty kick to be taken or for one to be retaken, a goal sh=
all
be allowed if, before going into the goal, the ball touches any combination=
of
the goalposts, crossbar, goalkeeper, or ground (providing no other infringe=
ment
has been committed).
(c) Unless the ball has entered the goal (in which case the ki=
ck
is retaken), infringements of Law 14 by the kicking team must be punished w=
ith
an indirect free kick from the place where the infringement occurred.
15. Player in offside position
(a) It is not an offense in itself to be in an offside positio=
n.
(b) A player shall be penalized for being offside if, at the
moment the ball touches or is played by one of that player's teammates, the
player is, in the opinion of the referee, involved in the active play by
1. =
Interfering
with play or with an opponent, or
2. =
Gaining
an advantage by being in that position.
(c) A player shall not be penalized for offside by the referee=
1. =
Merely
because the player is in an offside position, or
2. =
If the
player receives the ball directly from a goal kick, a corner kick, or a
throw-in.
An assistant referee must not signal merely because a player i=
s in
an offside position. Furtherm=
ore,
if an assistant referee is in any doubt as to whether a player is offside
(active position) or not, the referee should decide in favor of the attacke=
r;
in other words, refrain from signaling offside.
16. Goalkeeper restrictions
An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a
goalkeeper, inside the goalkeeper's own penalty area, . takes more than six
seconds from the moment of establishing control with the hands until the ba=
ll
is released into play . touches the ball again with the hands after it has =
been
released from the goalkeeper's possession and has not touched any other pla=
yer
outside the penalty area or has touched only a teammate inside the penalty =
area
. touches the ball with the hands after it has been deliberately kicked to =
the
goalkeeper by a teammate . touches the ball with the hands after receiving =
it
directly from a throw-in taken by a teammate
17. Persistent
infringements
Any player who repeatedly infringes the Laws of the Game by
committing multiple fouls or by participating in a pattern of fouls directe=
d at
an opponent shall be cautioned and shown the yellow card.
18. Substitution
When a substitution is to take place, the substitute shall rep=
ort
to the fourth official (or assistant referee) and surrender the substitution
card (if applicable), properly completed, at the halfway line. A player who is going to be replac=
ed may
not leave the field of play without the referee's permission and then only =
when
the ball is out of play. The
substitute may then enter the field at the halfway line after receiving a
signal to do so from the referee.
The substitute must be fully ready to play before reporting to=
the
appropriate official. Referees
should not delay the timely restart of play to allow substitutes to correct
their equipment or uniforms before entering the field nor shall the referee
prevent a team from restarting play if the substitute has not reported to t=
he
appropriate official prior to play being stopped. There is no requirement that the p=
layer
leaving the field must do so at the halfway line.
19. Injury of a player
If a player is bleeding, that player must leave the field
immediately to have the bleeding stopped and the skin and uniform cleaned as
thoroughly as possible. When =
the
player is ready to return to the game, the player's injuries and the uniform
must be inspected by an official.
This can be the referee or, if delegated by the referee in the prega=
me
conference, the fourth official or, if there is no fourth official, an
assistant referee. Only then =
will
the referee give permission for the player to re-enter the game; the game n=
eed
not be stopped in this situation.
Only the referee may permit the return to the field of play of=
a
player who was instructed to leave the field for treatment of an injury.
Up to two team officials are permitted to enter the field of p=
lay
with the referee's permission solely for the purpose of assessing an
injury--not to treat it-and to arrange for the player's removal.
The referee must exercise care before allowing removal of a
seriously injured player from the field.
In all cases where an injury was the sole reason for the stopp=
age
of play, the injured player is required to leave the field and cannot be
permitted to return until the referee gives permission after play has resta=
rted
20. Attitude towards referees
Any player who protests at an official's decision may be
cautioned. Any player who ass=
aults or
insults an official shall be sent off.&nbs=
p;
The captain of a team, although responsible for the team's behavior,=
has
no special rights.
21. Throw-in
A throw-in may not be taken from a distance of more than one y=
ard
(one meter) outside the touch line. Players who stand in front of the throw=
er
in such a way as to harass the thrower or to interfere with the throw-in mu=
st
be cautioned for unsporting behavior and shown the yellow card. Opponents must remain at least two
meters/yards from the point where the throw-in is taken. If they do not, they must be cauti=
oned
and shown the yellow card for failing to respect the required distance.
22. Delaying the restart of play
Any player who delays the restart by wasting time shall be
cautioned. The following acti=
ons
are examples of this behavior:
- takes a free kick from a wrong position with the sole intent=
ion
of forcing the referee to demand a retake;
- appears to prepare for a throw-in but suddenly leaves it to a
teammate to perform the throw-in;
- performs any restart in such a way that the ball is not prop=
erly
put into play, thus forcing a repetition of the restart;
- kicks the ball away or carries it away with the hands after =
the
referee has stopped play for any reason;
- stands in front of the ball when a free kick has been awarde=
d to
the opposing team in order to give the team time to organize the defensive
wall;
- excessively delays taking any restart;
- delays leaving the field when being substituted;
- provoking a confrontation by deliberately touching the ball =
after
the referee has stopped play
23. Celebration of goal
(a) After a goal has been scored, the player who has scored it=
is
allowed to share the joy with teammates.&n=
bsp;
However, the referee must not allow them to spend an excessive amoun=
t of
time in their opponents' half of the field. Neither shall the referee allow pl=
ayers
to taunt their opponents. In =
any of
these cases, the referee will caution the offending player for unsporting
behavior. Referees must look =
beyond
the behavior of players celebrating goals and consider as misconduct only t=
hose
actions which are provocative, obscene or insulting, or which unnecessarily
delay the restart of play.
(b) If a player removes the shirt to celebrate a goal, the pla=
yer
must be cautioned for unsporting behavior and shown the yellow card.
A player must be cautioned when he or she:
. &nbs=
p; in
the opinion of the referee, makes gestures which are provocative,
derisory or inflammatory
. &nbs=
p; climbs
on to a perimeter fence to celebrate a goal being scored
. &nbs=
p; removes
the shirt over the head or covers his/her head with the shirt
Leaving the field to celebrate a goal is not a cautionable off=
ence
in itself but it is essential that players return to the field as soon as
possible.
Referees are expected to act in a preventive mode and to exerc=
ise
common sense in dealing with the celebration of a goal.
24. Liquid refreshments during the match
Players shall be entitled to take liquid refreshments during a
stoppage in the match but only on the touchline. Players may not leave the field du=
ring
play to take liquids. It is
forbidden to throw plastic water bags or any other water containers onto or
from the field.
25. Players' equipment
(a) The referee shall ensure that each player wears the uniform
properly and check that anything worn by the player conforms with the
requirements of Law 4. Players shall be made aware that their jersey remains
tucked inside their shorts and that their socks remain pulled up. The referee shall also make sure t=
hat
each player is wearing shinguards and that none of them is wearing potentia=
lly
dangerous objects (such as watches or other jewelry of any nature).
(b) Players are
permitted to wear visible undergarments such as thermopants. They must, however, be the same co=
lor as
the shorts of the team of the player wearing them and not extend beyond the=
top
of the knee. If a team wears multicolored shorts, the undergarment must be =
the
same color as the predominant color.
(c) The referee, assisted as needed by the assistant referees,
shall ensure that player equipment and uniforms comply with Law 4 and will =
pay
particular attention to any items (e.g., braces) worn by a player which are=
not
included in the standard uniform.
d) All items of jewelry are considered potentially dangerous.<=
span
style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Jewelry may not be worn. Taping je=
wellery
is not adequate protection. R=
ings,
earrings, leather or rubber bands are not necessary to play and the only th=
ing
they can bring about is injury.
26. The Role of the Fourth Official
The Fourth Official will assist the referee at all times. The fourth official must indicate =
to the
referee if the wrong player is cautioned or when a player who has been give=
n a
second caution is not sent off or when violent conduct occurs out of the vi=
ew
of the referee and assistant referees.&nbs=
p;
The referee, however, retains the authority to decide on all points
connected with play.
27. Trickery (cf. Law 12 IFAB Decision 3)
A player using a deliberate trick to circumvent the text and
spirit of Law 12 regarding deliberate passes to the goalkeeper shall be
cautioned for unsporting behavior and shown a yellow card.
28. Technical area
Team officials may convey tactical instructions to players dur=
ing
the game. However, team officials must remain within the confines of the
technical area while doing so and must conduct themselves, at all times, in=
a
responsible manner. Only one =
person
at a time may be standing in the technical area, giving instructions to the
team.
The technical area may be defined as an area covering the leng=
th
of the substitutes' bench plus one yard on either side and extending from t=
he
front of the bench up to a distance of one yard (one meter) away from the
touchline. It is recommended =
that
markings be used to define this area, but the absence of such markings does=
not
relieve team officials from the obligation to behave responsibly. The referee may sketch out a techn=
ical
area if one is not marked and if, in the opinion of the referee, this is ne=
eded
to assist in the control of sideline behavior.
29. Simulation (Law 12, IFAB Decision 5)
Any simulating action anywhere on the field, which is intended=
to
deceive the referee, must be sanctioned as unsporting behavior.
A number of specific actions may be considered cautionable as
unsporting behavior. These in=
clude
faking an injury or exaggerating the seriousness of an injury and faking a =
foul
(diving) or exaggerating the severity of a foul.
30. Misconduct by substitutes or substituted players
(a) Referees must caution and show the yellow card for unsport=
ing
behavior, dissent, or delay of restarts by substitutes or substituted playe=
rs.
(b) Substitutes or substituted players who are sent off and sh=
own
the red card must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical
area. If their offense involv=
ed the
use of violence or excessive force, the referee must report the reason as
violent conduct.
31. Dealing with injured players
Referees must follow the instructions below when dealing with
injured players:
Vincent Mauro
State Referee Administrator