rules

Overview

Football, the world’s most popular sport, has one of sport’s smallest Law/rule books. However, like any rule book, The IFAB’s official ‘Laws of the Game’ is very detailed and uses technical and sometimes complex language. 

Consequently, many people who watch, play, coach, referee or report on the game have asked for a simpler version which gives a shorter but clear overall picture. Therefore, we created “Football Rules”, a reduced version of the official Laws of the Game. Whilst the Laws are mainly intended for referees, the Football Rules use simpler language and a different structure, to make the Laws easier to understand for everyone. Each Rule has a link to the corresponding sections in the Laws of the Game for those who want more information or the official wording. 

The term “rules” and other terms used in this version (e.g. ‘pitch’ instead of ‘field of play’, penalty ‘spot’ instead of penalty ‘mark' or ‘penalties’ (penalty shoot-out) instead of ‘kicks from the penalty mark’) were chosen to reflect widely used words and terms.

There is a simpler structure with a focus on ‘what should happen?’ and ‘what happens if...’ something happens which is not expected or allowed. 

One of football’s key attractions is its simplicity. Hopefully, these Football Rules will provide an easier understanding and appreciation of the Laws for everyone, and will enhance the game’s attractiveness for participants and spectators wherever they are in the world, and at whatever level of the game. 

If you have any questions, they can be sent to: lawenquiries@theifab.com 

As the simplified football rules do not cover everything in the Laws, please use the links to the relevant parts of the official Laws of the Game.