Football Rules
Why the technical area has room for a team but one tactical voice
The technical area has rules for its occupants, boundaries and tactical instructions. Learn what to watch before interpreting a busy football bench.
FROM THE TOUCHLINE
Follow the game. Understand the details.
Matchday planning, the laws of football and the small details that make watching more rewarding.
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Football Rules
Offside after a defender’s touch: deliberate play is different from a deflection
A defender’s touch does not automatically reset offside. Read the difference between deliberate play, a deflection and a deliberate save in the Laws.
Football Rules
After an injury, treatment and return to the pitch follow different rules
Follow the separate decisions around an injured footballer: stopping play, allowing treatment, leaving the field and receiving permission to return.
Laws of the Game
A goal celebration can earn a booking even when the goal is disallowed
Why a yellow card for an illegal goal celebration can remain after the goal is ruled out, with a simple match sequence to follow.
Laws of the Game
When a goalpost or crossbar breaks, the referee needs a safe goal
A broken crossbar is more than a delay to the score. See why the referee stops play and why a makeshift replacement cannot simply be accepted.
Laws of the Game
A quick free kick does not always earn a retake when an opponent is nearby
A quick free kick can be intercepted by a nearby opponent without a retake. Learn how IFAB distinguishes interception from deliberately blocking the restart.