Law Changes

IFAB Law Changes for 2019/2020
Summarized Version in Alphabetical Order

Dropped ball - Laws 8 & 9

Changes:

If play is stopped inside the penalty area, the ball will be dropped for the goalkeeper
If play is stopped outside the penalty area, the ball will be dropped for one player of the team that last touched the ball at the point of the last touch
In all cases, all the other players (of both teams) must be at least 4m (4.5yds) away

Free Kicks - Law 13

Changes:

When there is a ‘wall’ of three or more defenders, the attackers are not allowed within 1m (1yd.) of the wall; an attacker less than 1m (1yd) from the ‘wall’ when the kick is taken will be penalized with an indirect free kick
When the defending team takes a free kick in their own penalty area, the ball is in play once the kick is taken; it does not have to leave the penalty area before it can be played

Goal Celebrations - Law 12

Changes:

A YC for an ‘illegal’ celebration (e.g. removing the shirt) remains even if the goal is disallowed

Goal Kick - Law 16

Changes

The ball is in play once the kick is taken; it can be played before leaving the penalty area

Handball - Law 12

Changes

Deliberate handball remains an offence
The following ‘handball’ situations, even if accidental, will be a free kick:
- The ball goes into the goal after touching an attacking player’s hand/arm
- A player gains control/possession of the ball after it has touches their hand/arm•and then scores, or creates a goal-scoring opportunity
- The ball touches a player’s hand/arm which has made their body unnaturally bigger
- The ball touches a player’s hand/arm when it is above their shoulder (unless the player has deliberately played the ball which then touches their hand/arm)

The following will not usually be a free kick, unless they are one of the above situations:
- The ball touches a player’s hand/arm directly from their own head/body/foot or the head/body/foot of another player who is close/near
- The ball touches a player’s hand/arm which is close to their body and has not made their body unnaturally bigger
- If a player is falling and the ball touches their hand/arm when it is between their body and the ground to support the body (but not extended to make the body bigger)
- If the goalkeeper attempts to ‘clear’ (release into play) a throw-in or deliberate kick from a team-mate but the ‘clearance’ fails, the goalkeeper can then handle the ball

Kick-Off - Law 8

Changes

The team that wins the toss can now choose to take the kick-off or which goal to attack (previously they only had the choice of which goal to attack)

Medical Breaks - Law 7

Changes

Difference between ‘cooling’ breaks (90 secs – 3 mins) and ‘drinks’ breaks (max 1 min)

Penalty Kick - Law 14

Changes

The team’s penalty taker can have (quick) treatment/assessment and then take the kick
The goalkeeper must not be touching the goalposts/crossbar/nets; they must not be moving
The goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on/in line with the goal line when the kick is taken; cannot stand behind the line

Players' Equipment - Law 4

Changes

Multi-colored/patterned undershirts are allowed if they are the same as the sleeve of the main shirt

Quick free kick and YC/RC - Law 12

Changes

If the referee is about to issue a YC/RC but the non-offending team takes the free kick quickly and creates a goal-scoring opportunity, the referee can delay the YC/RC until the next stoppage if the offending team was not distracted by the referee

Substitutes - Law 3

Changes

A player who is being substituted must leave the field by the nearest point on the touchline/goal line (unless the referee indicates the player can leave quickly/immediately at the halfway line or a different point because of safety, injury etc.)

Team Officials - Laws 5 & 12

Changes

A team official guilty of misconduct will be shown a YC (caution) or RC (sending-off)*; if the offender cannot be identified, the senior coach who is in the technical area at the time will receive the YC/RC * Law 12 will have a list of YC/RC offences