| The Laws of the Game are based on | | | | remain to be played, and the fourth |
| efforts made in the mid-19th century to | | | | official then signals this to players |
| standardise the rules of the widely | | | | and spectators by holding up a board |
| varying games of football played at the | | | | showing this number. |
| independent schools of England. The | | | | Note that there is often semantic debate |
| first set of rules resembling the modern | | | | as to whether the referee is "adding on" |
| game were produced at Trinity College, | | | | time to the end of a half, or rather |
| Cambridge in 1848, at a meeting attended | | | | treating time during stoppages as though |
| by representatives from Eton, Harrow, | | | | it never existed as part of the match |
| Rugby, Winchester and Shrewsbury, but | | | | time; this distinction has little |
| they were far from universally adopted. | | | | bearing on the practical conduct of a |
| During the 1850s, many clubs were | | | | game, however it may be noted that the |
| formed, throughout the English-speaking | | | | pre-1997 wording of the laws stated that |
| world, independent of schools or | | | | the referee "shall ... allow the full or |
| universities, to play various forms of | | | | agreed time adding thereto all time lost |
| football. Some came up with their own | | | | through injury or accident" (Law V), and |
| distinct codes of rules, most notably | | | | later FIFA guidelines regarding the |
| the Sheffield Football Club (formed by | | | | annotation of goal scoring times |
| former pupils from Harrow) in 1857, | | | | suggested that time is indeed "added-on" |
| which led to formation of a Sheffield FA | | | | to the end of the agreed half period. |
| in 1867. In 1862, John Charles Thring of | | | | Extra time and shootouts In some |
| Uppingham School also devised an | | | | competitions if a game is tied at the |
| influential set of rules. | | | | end of regulation time it may go into |
| Players and equipment Each team consists | | | | extra time, which consists of two |
| of a maximum of eleven players | | | | further 15-minute periods. If the score |
| (excluding substitutes), one of whom | | | | is still tied after extra time, some |
| must be the goalkeeper. | | | | competitions allow the use of penalty |
| Competition rules may state a minimum of | | | | shootouts (known officially in the Laws |
| seven players are required to constitute | | | | of the Game as "kicks from the penalty |
| a team. There are a variety of positions | | | | mark") to determine which team will |
| in which the outfield players are | | | | progress to the next stage of the |
| strategically placed by a manager/coach, | | | | tournament. Note that goals scored |
| though these positions are not defined | | | | during extra time periods count towards |
| or required by the Laws. | | | | the final score of the game, unlike |
| One player on each team must be | | | | kicks from the penalty mark which are |
| designated as that team's goalkeeper. | | | | only used to decide the team that |
| The goalkeeper is the only player | | | | progresses to the next part of the |
| allowed to handle the ball with his | | | | tournament (with goals scored not making |
| hands or arms, but is restricted to | | | | up part of the final score). |
| doing so within the penalty area (also | | | | Competitions utilizing two-leg stages |
| known as the "box" or "18 yard box") in | | | | (i.e. where each round involves the two |
| front of his own goal. | | | | teams playing each other twice) may |
| The basic equipment players are required | | | | utilise the so-called away goals rule to |
| to wear includes a shirt (or jersey), | | | | attempt to determine which team |
| shorts, socks (or stockings), footwear | | | | progresses in the event of the teams |
| and adequate shin guards. Players are | | | | being equal on wins; however, should |
| forbidden to wear or use anything that | | | | results still be equal following this |
| is dangerous to themselves or another | | | | calculation kicks from the penalty mark |
| player (including jewellery or watches). | | | | are usually required. Other competitions |
| A number of players may be replaced by | | | | may require a tied game to be replayed. |
| substitutes during the course of the | | | | Golden and silver goal experiments In |
| game. The maximum substitutions | | | | the late 1990s, the IFAB experimented |
| permitted in international games and in | | | | with ways of making matches more likely |
| national level leagues are three, though | | | | to end without requiring kicks from the |
| substitution numbers may be varied in | | | | penalty mark, which were often seen as |
| other leagues. The usual reasons for a | | | | an undesirable way to end a match. |
| player's replacement include injury, | | | | These involved rules ending a game in |
| tiredness, ineffectiveness, a tactical | | | | extra time early, either when the first |
| switch, or to waste a little time at the | | | | goal in extra time was scored (golden |
| end of a finely poised game. In standard | | | | goal), or at the end of the first period |
| adult matches, a player who has been | | | | of extra time if one team was by then |
| substituted may not take further part in | | | | leading (silver goal). Both these |
| the match. | | | | experiments have been discontinued by |
| Officials A game is presided over by a | | | | IFAB. |
| referee, who has "full authority to | | | | Golden goal was used at the World cup in |
| enforce the Laws of the Game in | | | | 2002 (Japan-South Korea), and silver |
| connection with the match to which he | | | | goal was used in Euro 2004 (Portugal). |
| has been appointed" (Law 5), and whose | | | | Fouls and misconduct A foul occurs when |
| decisions regarding facts connected with | | | | a player commits a specific offence |
| play are final. The referee is assisted | | | | listed in the Laws of the Game when the |
| by two assistant referees (formerly | | | | ball is in play. The offences that |
| called linesmen). In many high-level | | | | constitute a foul are listed in Law 12. |
| games there is also a fourth official, | | | | "Penal fouls", for example handling the |
| who assists the referee and may replace | | | | ball, tripping an opponent, pushing an |
| another official should the need arise. | | | | opponent, etc, are punishable by a |
| Playing field The length of the field | | | | direct free kick or penalty kick |
| (pitch) for international adult matches | | | | depending on where the offence occurred. |
| should be in the range 100-110m (110-120 | | | | Other fouls are punishable by an |
| yards) and the width should be in the | | | | indirect free kick. |
| range 64-75m (70-80 yards). | | | | Misconduct may occur at any time, and |
| The longer boundary lines are touch | | | | may be committed by both players and |
| lines, while the shorter boundaries (on | | | | substitutes. Whilst the offences that |
| which the goals are placed) are goal | | | | constitute misconduct are listed, the |
| lines. On the goal line at each end of | | | | definitions are broad. In particular, |
| the field is a goal. The inner edges of | | | | the offence of "unsporting behaviour" |
| the goal posts must be 7.32m (8 yards) | | | | may be used to deal with most events |
| apart, and the lower edge of the | | | | that violate the spirit of the game, |
| crossbar must be 2.44m (8 feet) above | | | | even if they are not listed as specific |
| the ground. | | | | offences. |
| Nets are usually placed behind the goal, | | | | Misconduct may be punished by a caution |
| though are not required by the Laws. | | | | (yellow card) or sending-off (red card). |
| In front of each goal is an area of the | | | | Recently, there have been problems in |
| field known as the penalty area | | | | professional football leagues because of |
| (colloquially "penalty box", "18 yard | | | | the problem known as 'diving' or |
| box" or simply "the box"). This area | | | | 'simulation'. This is the wilful falling |
| consists of the area formed by the | | | | over of a player in order to win a |
| goal-line, two lines starting on the | | | | free-kick or penalty when little or no |
| goal-line 16.5m (18 yards) from the | | | | contact has been made between the two |
| goalposts and extending 18 yards into | | | | players. This poses a dilemma for |
| the pitch from the goal-line, and a line | | | | officials who are trying to conduct a |
| joining these. This area has a number of | | | | fair game. In response, 'simulation' has |
| important functions, the most prominent | | | | been defined as 'unsporting behaviour' |
| being to denote where the goalkeeper may | | | | and therefore is now a bookable offense. |
| handle the ball and where a foul by a | | | | Advantage The advantage clause states |
| defender which would usually punished by | | | | that the referee should allow play to |
| a direct free kick becomes punishable by | | | | continue — i.e. not stop play — when |
| a penalty kick. | | | | the team against which an offence has |
| Duration Standard durations A standard | | | | been committed will benefit from having |
| adult football match consists of two | | | | play continue. The referee may "call |
| periods (known as halves) of 45 minutes | | | | back" play and penalise the original |
| each. There is usually a 15-minute break | | | | offence if the anticipated advantage |
| between halves, known as half time. The | | | | does not ensue within a short period of |
| end of the match is known as full-time. | | | | time, typically taken to be four to five |
| Time added on The referee is the | | | | seconds. |
| official timekeeper for the match, and | | | | Even if an offence is not penalised due |
| it is part of his duties to make | | | | to application of the advantage clause |
| allowance for time lost through | | | | the offender may still be sanctioned for |
| substitutions, injured players requiring | | | | any associated misconduct at the next |
| attention, cautions and dismissals, | | | | stoppage of play. |
| sundry time wasting, etc. | | | | Offside The offside law limits the |
| When making such an allowance for time | | | | ability of attacking players to remain |
| lost, the referee is often said to be | | | | forward (i.e. |
| "adding time on"; the added time is | | | | closer to the opponent's goal-line) of |
| commonly referred to as stoppage time or | | | | both the ball and the second last |
| injury time. The amount of time is at | | | | defending player. It is often assumed |
| the sole discretion of the referee, and | | | | that the purpose of this law is to |
| the referee alone signals when the match | | | | prevent "goal scrounging" or "cherry |
| has been completed. There are no other | | | | picking", but in fact the offside law |
| timekeepers, although assistant referees | | | | has similar roots to the offside law in |
| carry a watch and may provide a second | | | | rugby. The details and application of |
| opinion if requested by the referee. In | | | | this law are complex, and often result |
| matches where a fourth official is | | | | in controversy: for more information on |
| appointed, towards the end of the half | | | | offside please refer to the main article |
| the referee will signal how many minutes | | | | above. |