1996 edition of the Laws of the Game

<body bgcolor="#F6F69B"> <img width="561" height="61" src="/images/barhndbk.nopic.gif"> <p></p> <table width="560" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <th align="right"><font size="+2">L</font><font size="+1">AWS OF THE</font> <font size="+2">G</font><font size="+1">AME</font></th> </tr> </table> <hr size="8" width="560" align="left"> <p></p> <table border="0" cellpadding="5" width="560"> <tr valign="top"> <th align="right"><font size="-1">1.<br> 2.<br> 3.<br> 4.<br> 5.<br> 6.<br> 7.<br> 8.<br> 9.<br></font></th> <th align="left"> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.1.html"><font size="-1">THE FIELD OF PLAY</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.2.html"><font size="-1">THE BALL</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.3.html"><font size="-1">NUMBER OF PLAYERS</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.4.html"><font size="-1">PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.5.html"><font size="-1">REFEREES</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.6.html"><font size="-1">ASSISTANT REFEREES</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.7.html"><font size="-1">DURATION OF THE GAME</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.8.html"><font size="-1">THE START OF PLAY</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.9.html"><font size="-1">BALL IN AND OUT OF PLAY</font></a><br> </th> <th align="right"><font size="-1">10.<br> 11.<br> 12.<br> 13.<br> 14.<br> 15.<br> 16.<br> 17.<br></font></th> <th align="left"> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.10.html"><font size="-1">METHOD OF SCORING</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.11.html"><font size="-1">OFF-SIDE</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.12.html"><font size="-1">FOULS AND MISCONDUCT</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.13.html"><font size="-1">FREE-KICK</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.14.html"><font size="-1">PENALTY-KICK</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.15.html"><font size="-1">THROW-IN</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.16.html"><font size="-1">GOAL-KICK</font></a><br> <a href="/fifa/handbook/law.17.html"><font size="-1">CORNER-KICK</font></a><br> </th> </tr> </table> <p><i>Laws of the Game</i> is also available as a framed document if you are using a browser, such as Netscape Navigator<sup><font size="1">tm</font></sup> 2.0 or compatible browser, that is capable of supporting framed documents.</p> <p></p> <hr size="5" width="560" align="left"> <p></p> <h2>P<font size="+1">REFACE</font></h2> <p><font size="+2">I</font>t's FIFA's custom to publish the annual edition of the Laws of the Game in its four official languages (English, French, Spanish and German) soon after the meeting of the International Football Association Board.</p> <p><img width="121" height="175" vspace="3" hspace="10" align="left" border="1" src="/images/lawsbook.gif">This new edition of the Laws of the Game contains amendments and explanations to the decisions reached by the International F.A. Board at a meeting held in Scotland on 4 March 1995.</p> <p>As announced last year, a special committee is currently rewording the Laws so that the will be easier to read and understand. It is due to finish its work in 1996, when the completely revised lay-out mentioned last year will finally be published.</p> <p>In the meantime, a number of new diagrams illustrating Laws XI and XII have already been incorporated as a foretaste of what is to come.</p> <p>FIFA wishes to remind the national associations that it is their duty to ensure their referees implement the Laws of the Game strictly, as defined by the board.</p> <p>The International F.A. Board and FIFA will continue to work together in an effort to promote and improve our sport constantly.</p> <p>Dr. João Havelange<br> President of FIFA<br> July 1995<br></p> <p></p> <hr> <h2>N<font size="+1">OTES</font></h2>Subject to the agreement of the national association concerned and provided the principles of these Laws are maintained, the Laws may be modified in their application for matches for players of under 16 years of age, for women's football and for veterans' football (over 35 years). <p>Any or all of the following modifications are permissible:<br> (a) size of the field of play;<br> (b) size, weight and material of the ball;<br> (c) width between the goalposts and height of the cross-bar from the ground;<br> (d) the duration of the periods of play;<br> (e) number of substitutions.</p> <p>Further modifications are only possible with the consent of the International Football Association Board. References to the male gender in the Laws of the Game in respect of referees, linesmen, players or officials are for simplification and refer to both males and females.<br></p> <p></p> <center> <table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" width="560"> <tr> <th colspan="2" align="left">FEDERATION INTERNATIONAL DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION (FIFA)</th> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td width="125"><i>President:</i></td> <td align="left">Dr. João Havelange (Brazil)</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td><i>General Secretary:</i></td> <td align="left">Joseph S. Blatter (Switzerland)</td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td><i>Address:</i></td> <td align="left"> FIFA House, 11 Hitzigweg<br> 8030 Zurich, Switzerland<br> Telephone: +41 (1) 384-9595<br> Telefax: +41 (1) 384-9696<br> Telex: 817-204 fifa ch <p></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2" align="left">INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BOARD (IFAB)</th> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td align="left"><i>Members:</i><br></td> <td align="left"> The Football Association<br> The Scottish Football Association<br> The Football Association of Wales<br> Irish Football Association<br> <font size="-1"><i>(1 vote each)</i></font> <p>Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA)<br> <font size="-1"><i>(4 votes)</i></font><br></p> </td> </tr> </table> <p></p> <hr> <p><a href="/index.html"><img width="39" height="43" align="absmiddle" vspace="5" hspace="7" src="/images/backward.gif"> FIFA Home Page</a> | Laws of the Game for Indoor Football<img width="39" height="43" align="absmiddle" vspace="5" hspace="7" src="/images/forward.gif"></p> </center> <p></p> <center> Copyright © 1995 <a href="/fifa/pub/copyright.html">Fédération Internationale de Football Association</a>. All rights reserved.<br> Copyright © 1995 <a href="/enlinea/index.html">En-Linea, Inc.</a> All rights reserved. </center> </body>