Law changes 21/22

Measurements
If there is any divergence between metric and imperial units, the metric unitsare authoritative.

Law 4. The Players’ Equipment > 4.5 Slogans, statements, images and advertising > Interpreting the Law 

Law 5. The Referee > 5.4 Video assistant referee (VAR) > Reviews after play has restarted 

Law 12. Fouls and Misconduct The Ball  > 12.2 Indirect free kick

Law 12. Fouls and Misconduct The Ball  > 12.3 Disciplinary action > Celebration of a goal

Law 12. Fouls and Misconduct The Ball  > 12.3 Disciplinary action > Sending-off offences

Law 12. Fouls and Misconduct The Ball  > 12.3 Disciplinary action > Team officials 

Video assistant referee (VAR) protocol > 1 Principles

Video assistant referee (VAR) protocol > 2 Reviewable match-changing decisions/incidents

Video assistant referee (VAR) protocol > 4 Procedures

Where artificial surfaces are used in competition matches representative teams of national football associations affiliated to FIFA or international club competition matches, the surface must meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf or the International Match Standard, unless special dispensation is given by the IFAB.

GLT systems may be used to verify whether a goal has been scored to support the referee’s decision. Where GLT is used, modifications to the goal frame may be permitted in accordance with the specifications stipulated in the FIFA Quality Programme for GLT and with the Laws of the Game. The use of GLT must be stipulated in the competition rules. 

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Requirements and specifications of GLT

If GLT is used in competition matches, the competition organisers must ensure that the system (including any potentially permitted modifications to the goal frame or technology in the ball) is certified according to one of the following standards: meets the requirements of the FIFA Quality Programme for GLT.

• FIFA Quality PRO
• FIFA Quality
• IMS – INTERNATIONAL MATCH STANDARD

An independent testing institute must verify the accuracy and functionality of the different technology providers’ systems in accordance with the FIFA Quality Programme for GLT Testing Manual. Where GLT is used, the referee must test the technology’s functionality before the match as set out in the Testing Manual. If the technology does not function in accordance with the Testing Manual, the referee must not use the GLT system and must report this to the appropriate authorities.

Where GLT is used, the referee must test the technology’s functionality before the match as set out in the Testing Manual.

All balls used in matches played in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA or confederations must bear one of the following meet therequirements and bear one of the marks of the FIFA Quality Programme forFootballs.

Each mark indicates (…) and must be approved by The IFAB. The institutes conducting the tests are subject to the approval of FIFA.

Where goal line technology (GLT) is used, balls with integrated technology must carry one of the above-listed marks.

Where wearable technology (…) the competition organiser must ensure that the technology attached to the players’ equipment is not dangerous and meets one of the following standards: IMS (International Match Standard) or FIFA Quality the requirements for wearable EPTS under the FIFA Quality Programme for EPTS.

The institutes conducting these tests are subject to the approval of FIFA.
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A professional standard was developed by FIFA and approved by The IFAB in order to The FIFA Quality Programme for EPTS supports the competition organisers (…)

The following mark indicates that an EPTS (wearable or optical) has been officially tested to the requirements in terms of reliability and accuracy of positional data in football.

A goal consists of (…) The goalposts and crossbar must be made of approved material They must be square, rectangular, round, elliptical or a combination of these shapes and must not be dangerous. The goalposts and crossbar of both goals must be the same shape, which must be square, rectangular, round, elliptical or a hybrid of these options.
It is recommended that all goals used in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA or confederations meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Goals.

Principles of GLT
The indication of whether a goal has been scored must be immediate and automatically confirmed within one second by the GLT system only to the match officials (via the referee’s watch, by vibration and visual signal); it may also be sent to the video operation room (VOR).

The VAR and AVAR are the ‘video’ match officials (VMOs) and assist the referee in accordance with the Laws of the Game and the VAR protocol as determined by The IFAB.

Allowance is made by the referee in each half for all playing time lost in that half
through (...)

The hands and arms of all players, including the goalkeepers, are not considered. For the purposes of determining offside, the upper boundary of the arm is in line with the bottom of the armpit.

A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offences:

• (…)
• bites or spits at someone on the team lists or a match official

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It is an offence if a player:

• deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, including moving the hand/arm towards the ball
• scores in the opponents’ goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper
• after the ball has touched their or a team-mate’s hand/arm, even if accidental, immediately:
  • scores in the opponents’ goal
  • creates a goal-scoring opportunity
• touches the ball with their hand/arm when:
  • the hand/arm has made their body unnaturally bigger
  • the hand/arm is above/beyond their shoulder level (unless the player deliberately plays the ball which then touches their hand/arm)

The above offences apply even if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close.
Except for the above offences, it is not an offence if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm:

• directly from the player’s own head or body (including the foot)
• directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close
• if the hand/arm is close to the body and does not make the body unnaturally bigger
• when a player falls and the hand/arm is between the body and the ground to support the body, but not extended laterally or vertically away from the body

New text
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Not every touch of a player’s hand/arm with the ball is an offence.

It is an offence if a player:

• deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, for example moving the
  hand/arm towards the ball
• touches the ball with their hand/arm when it has made their body unnaturally bigger. A player is considered to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand/arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. By having their hand/arm in such a position, the player takes a risk of their hand/arm being hit by the ball and being penalised
• scores in the opponents’ goal:
  • directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper
  • immediately after the ball has touched their hand/arm, even if accidental

An indirect free kick is awarded if a player:

• (…)
• initiates a deliberate trick for the ball to be passed (including from a free kick or goal kick) to the goalkeeper with the head, chest, knee etc. to circumvent the Law, whether or not the goalkeeper touches the ball with the hands; the goalkeeper is penalised if responsible for initiating the deliberate trick
• commits any other offence (…)

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There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour, including if a player:

• (…)
• uses initiates a deliberate trick for the ball to be passed to pass the ball (including from a free kick or goal kick) to the goalkeeper with the head, chest, knee etc. to circumvent the Law, whether or not the goalkeeper touches the ball with the hands; the goalkeeper is cautioned if responsible for initiating the deliberate trick

If the ball is in play and a player commits a physical offence inside the field of play against:

• an opponent – an indirect or direct free kick or penalty kick
• a team-mate, substitute, substituted or sent-off player, team official or a match official – a direct free kick or penalty kick
• any other person – a dropped ball

All verbal offences are penalised with an indirect free kick.

If the referee stops play for an offence committed by a player, inside or outside the field of play, against an outside agent, play is restarted with a dropped ball, unless a free kick is awarded for leaving the field of play without the referee's permission.

The use of video assistant referees (VARs) is only permitted where the match/competition organiser has fulfilled all the Implementation Assistance and Approval Programme (IAAP) VAR protocol and implementation requirements, as set out in the VAR Handbook FIFA’s IAAP documents, and has received written permission from The IFAB and FIFA.

Incapacitated VAR, AVAR or replay operator

Law 6 – The Other Match Officials stipulates: “Competition rules must state clearly who replaces a match official who is unable to start or continue and any associated changes.” In matches using VARs, this also applies to replay operators.

As special training and qualifications are needed to be a video match official (VMO)/replay operator, the following principles must be included in competition rules:

• A VAR, AVAR or replay operator who is unable to start or continue may only be replaced by someone who is qualified for that role
• If no qualified replacement can be found for the VAR or replay operator,* the match must be played/continue without the use of VARs
• If no qualified replacement can be found for the AVAR,* the match must be played/continue without the use of VARs unless, in exceptional circumstances, both teams agree in writing that the match may be played/continue with only the VAR and replay operator

*This does not apply where there is more than one AVAR/replay operator.

Verbal or physical behaviour which is rude, hurtful, disrespectful; punishable by a sending-off (red card)

These are the VAR and AVAR who assist the referee in accordance with the Laws of the Game and the VAR protocol