The IFAB has released a summary of the changes and clarifications to the Laws of the Game for the 2024/25 season.
Law 1. The Field of Play
- Clarification that the goal line technology (GLT) indication that a goal has been scored can be communicated via the referee’s earpiece/headset
Law 3. The Players
- The use of additional permanent concussion substitutions is now available to competitions
- Each team must have a captain who wears an identifying armband
Law 4. The Players’ Equipment
- Clarification that players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shinguards
- Clarification of the requirements for the captain’s compulsory armband
- Reference to gloves to be included under ‘Other equipment’
- Reference to tracksuit bottoms for goalkeepers to be removed from ‘Compulsory equipment’ and included under ‘Other equipment’
Law 12. Fouls and Misconduct
- Clarification that non-deliberate handball offences for which penalties are awarded are to be sanctioned in the same way as fouls which are an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball
Law 14. The Penalty Kick
- Clarification that part of the ball must touch or overhang the centre of the penalty mark
- Encroachment by players will be penalised only if it has an impact (same philosophy as goalkeeper encroachment)
Guidelines for temporary dismissals (sin bins)
The guidelines have been revised, including, most notably, to specify that a temporarily dismissed player can return to the field of play only during a stoppage and to simplify System B
