MAJOR CHANGES TO THE 2016-2017 LAWS OF THE GAME
LAW 3: THE PLAYERS
If a substitute, team official, or sent off player interferes with play; then the opponent gets a direct free kick (or penalty kick if interference is in their own penalty area).
[Previous Law: restart was indirect free kick or dropped ball, depending on who interfered.]
If something or someone (other than a player) touches a ball going into the goal, the referee can award the goal if the ball goes in the goal, and the interference did not prevent a defending player from playing the ball.
[Previous Law: restart was dropped ball.]
LAW 4: THE PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT
A player who leaves the field (with referee permission) to correct or change equipment can return during play after the equipment has been checked (by referee, AR, or 4th official), and the referee signals for the player to return.
[Previous Law: return to play was only during a stoppage of play.]
LAW 5: THE REFEREE
A player injured as a result of an opponent’s physical offense that results in a yellow card or red card can be quickly assessed, treated, and stay on the field.
[Previous Law required the player to leave the field.]
LAW 8: THE START AND RESTART OF PLAY
The ball can be kicked in any direction at kick-off.
[Previous Law required ball to be kicked forward.]
LAW 10: DETERMINING THE OUTCOME OF A MATCH
Kicks from the Penalty Mark:
The referee will toss a coin to choose the goal for the kicks (unless there are weather, field of play, safety considerations, etc.). The referee will toss a coin a second time to determine which team kicks first.
[Previous Law did not require the referee to toss a coin to choose the goal.]
A goalkeeper can be replaced at any time, before or during the kicks.
[Previous Law allowed goalkeeper replacement only if injured.]
Both teams must have the same number of players before and during the kicks.
[Previous Law limited “reduce to equate” to one time only, just before the first kick.]
LAW 11: OFFSIDE
The indirect free kick for an offside offense is taken where the offense occurs (even if it occurs in a player’s own half).
[Previous Law interpretation: the kick was taken where the attacker was when a teammate touched or played the ball.]
LAW 12: FOULS AND MISCONDUCT
If an offense by a player involves physical contact, it always results in a direct free kick.
[Previous Law interpretation: “Impeding the progress of an opponent” (indirect free kick) could include minor contact.]
Striking on the head or face when not challenging an opponent for the ball is a red card unless the contact is minimal or negligible.
[Previous Law did not specify].
An offense on the field by a player against a teammate, substitute, team official, or match official is now a direct free kick or penalty kick.
[Previous Law was indirect free kick or dropped ball, depending on who was offended.]
A foul can now be committed off the field of play.
[Previous Law: fouls were only committed on the field.]
An offense off the field as part of normal play (with the ball still in play) will be penalized with a free kick on the boundary line at the point nearest to the offense (or a penalty kick if the direct free kick offense is within the offender’s own penalty area line extended off the field).
[Previous Law was indirect free kick or dropped ball depending on the offense.]
Some DOGSO (Denying Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity) offenses for a direct free kick foul in the penalty area are now punished with a yellow card. Red card remains for: holding, pulling, pushing, not attempting to play the ball, no possibility to play the ball, or deliberate handball that prevents a goal being scored.
[Previous Law: all DOGSO was red card.]
LAW 14: THE PENALTY KICK
Some offenses are always an indirect free kick whether or not the PK results in a goal:
- Indirect free kick if the wrong player deliberately takes the PK (and yellow card to player who took the kick). [Previous Law: yellow card not mandated.]
- Indirect free kick if the ball is kicked backwards. [No change from previous Law.]
- Indirect free kick if feinting occurs after kicker completes the run up to the ball (and yellow card to the kicker). [No change from previous Law.]
If the goalkeeper infringes and the PK is missed, the PK is retaken and the goalkeeper receives a yellow card.
[Previous Law: yellow card not mandated.]