III. NUMBER OF PLAYERS

1. A match shall be played by two teams, each consisting of not more than five players, one of whom shall be the goalkeeper.

   To start a match the minimum number of players per team shall be five.

   If, in the event of players being sent off, fewer than two players are left in either of the teams, the match shall be abandoned.

2. Substitutes may be used in any match played under the rules of an official competition at FIFA, confederation or national association level.

3. The maximum number of substitutes permitted shall be seven.

4. The number of "flying" substitutions made during a match is unlimited, except in the case of the goalkeeper, who can only be replaced when the ball is not in play. A player who has been replaced may return to the pitch as a substitute for another player.

5. A "flying" substitution is one which is made when the ball is still in play and for which the following conditions shall be observed:
   1. the player leaving the pitch shall do so from the touchline crossing over at the sector called the substitution zone.

   2. the player entering the pitch shall also do so from the substitution zone but not until the player leaving the pitch has passed completely over the touchline.

   3. a substitute shall be subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the referees whether called upon to play or not.

   4. the substitution is completed when the substitute enters the pitch, from which moment he becomes a player and the player whom he is replacing ceases to be a player.

6. A goalkeeper may change his place with any other player, provided that authorisation from one of the referees is previously requested and that the change is made during a stoppage in the game.

1. Play shall not be stopped for an infringement of par. 6. The players concerned shall be cautioned immediately when the ball goes out of play.

2. If during a "flying" substitution, a substitute enters the pitch before the replaced player has completely left it, the referees shall stop the game. The main referee shall instruct the replaced player to leave the field, caution the substitute and restart the game by an indirect free kick to be taken by the opposing team from the spot where the ball was situated when the game was stopped. However, if the ball was inside the penalty area, the indirect free kick shall be taken from the 6 m line, at the spot nearest to the position of the ball when the game was stopped.

3. If during a "flying" substitution, a substitute enters the pitch or a replaced player leaves it from a place other than the substitution zone, the referees shall stop the game. The main referee shall caution the offending player and restart the game by an indirect free kick to be taken by the opposing team from the spot where the ball was situated when the game was stopped. However, if the ball was inside the penalty area, the indirect free kick shall be taken from the 6 m line, at the spot nearest to the position of the ball when the game was stopped.

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