Amendments To The Laws Of The Game 2005
Earlier this year the 2005 Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) took place and a number of amendments to the Laws of the Game were issued.
The changes take affect on 1 July 2005 however they DO NOT apply to competitions that are currently in operation which commenced prior to this date, such as junior and senior winter competitions.
The amendments therefore will however apply to the Hyundai A-League pre-season and regular season competition.
A summary of the new text that will apply is as follows:
Law 3 - The Number of Players In National A team international matches, up to a maximum of six substitutes may be used. In all other matches, a greater number of substitutes may be used provided that the teams concerned reach agreement on a maximum number and the referee is informed before the match.
Law 3 - The Number of Players Bullet Point 3 (Substitution Procedure) Play is restarted with an indirect free kick at the place the ball was located when play was stopped. (This amendment applies to a substitute player entering the field without permission).
Law 5 - The Referee (addition to current text) The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant referee, provided that he has not restarted play or terminated the match.
Law 11 - Offside (amendment to definition) - Interfering with play means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team mate. - Interfering with an opponent means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent-s line of vision or movements or making a gesture or movement which, in the opinion of the referee, deceives or distracts an opponent. - Gaining an advantage by being in an offside position means playing a ball that rebounds to him off a post or crossbar or playing a ball that rebounds to him off an opponent having been in an offside position.
Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct (addition to current text) The referee has the authority to take disciplinary sanctions, as from the moment he enters the field of play until he leaves the field of play after the final whistle.
Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct (amendment to current text) A tackle, which endangers the safety of an opponent, must be sanctioned as serious foul play. (The text previously referred specifically to a tackle from behind).
Law 14 - The Penalty Kick Bullet Point 3 (amendment to current text) If the ball does not enter the goal, the referee stops play and restarts the match with an indirect free kick to the defending team. (This applies to a team-mate of the player taking a penalty kick entering the penalty area or moving in front of or within 9.15m (10 yards) of the penalty mark).
Law 15 - The Throw In (addition to current text) All opponents must stand no less than 2 metres from the point at which the throw-in is taken.
More information can be found at the following link:
http://www.fifa.com/en/regulations/regulation/0,1584,3,00.html