List of Rule changes

A summary of the rule changes is available to read below…
Dropped ball - Laws 8 & 9
• 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
• If the ball touches the referee (or another match official) and goes into the goal, team possession changes or a promising attack starts, a dropped ball is awarded
Free-kicks - Law 13
• When there is a ‘wall’ of three or more defenders, the attackers are not allowed within 1m (1 yd) of the wall; an attacker less than 1m (1yd) from the ‘wall’ when the kick is taken will be penalised 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
• A yellow card will be awarded for an ‘illegal’ celebration (e.g. removing the shirt) even if the goal is disallowed
Goal-kick - Law 16
• The ball is in play once the kick is taken; it can be played before leaving the penalty area. Opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play
Handball - Law 12
• 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