Football rules, for watching
Start with how a match works. Then the rules you see every few minutes, then the ones that change results.
Settling an argument? Search all 47 rules
- When does a goal count in football?
- Does an own goal count in football?
- Can a football match end in a draw?
- How does extra time work in football?
- How does a penalty shoot-out work in football?
- How do two-legged ties work in football?
- What is offside in football?
- When is a player in an offside position penalised?
- When can't a player be offside?
- What counts as a foul in football?
- When is it handball in football?
- Can you shield the ball in football?
- What is dangerous play in football?
- When can't the goalkeeper pick the ball up?
- Why didn't the referee stop play for that foul?
- What do you get a yellow card for in football?
- What gets a player sent off in football?
- Is a last-man foul always a red card?
- Can players argue with the referee in football?
- Are there sin bins in football?
- Can a football coach get a yellow or red card?
- How does a football match start?
- When is the ball out in football?
- What is the difference between a direct and an indirect free kick?
- What are the rules for a penalty kick?
- How do you take a throw-in?
- When is a goal kick given?
- When is a corner kick given?
- What is a dropped ball in football?
- How long is a football match?
- How is stoppage time decided in football?
- What is the punishment for time-wasting in football?
- What happens when a football match is abandoned?
- How many players are in a football team?
- How many substitutions are allowed in football?
- Is there a concussion substitute in football?
- What happens when a player is injured in football?
- What are the special rules for goalkeepers?
- What does the captain do in football?
- How big is a football pitch, and what do the lines mean?
- How big is a football goal?
- What size and weight is a football?
- What must a footballer wear?
- Who are the match officials in football?
- How does VAR work in football?
- What happens if the ball hits the referee in football?
- What happens if a fan, a dog or a second ball comes onto the pitch?
Where these rules come from
| Tag | Document |
|---|---|
| L plus Law and section | The IFAB, Laws of the Game 2026/27, in force from 1 July 2026 |
| L Notes | The "Notes and modifications" in the same book: general modifications and the protocols (time-limited substitution, off-field treatment, throw-in and goal-kick countdown, "Only the captain", temporary dismissals, return substitutes, concussion substitutions) |
| VAR protocol | The video assistant referee protocol in the same book |
| Law changes 2026/27 | The book's summary and details of this season's changes |
| L Gloss | The book's glossary |
| R | "Why the rule exists", or a point reasoned from the Law, not stated in it |
| C | Common usage or general knowledge, not a Law |
All checked on 13 October 2026. Laws 1 to 17, the protocols, the VAR protocol and the Law changes were read in full for this set. Not covered: the practical guidelines for match officials (not read in full); competition rules, which the Laws leave to decide league points, suspensions for accumulated cards, the number of substitutes, whether extra time and away goals are used, and what happens to an abandoned match; futsal and beach soccer (separate Laws).
Not covered: the practical guidelines for match officials (not read in full); competition rules, which the Laws leave to decide league points, suspensions for accumulated cards, the number of substitutes, whether extra time and away goals are used, and what happens to an abandoned match; futsal and beach soccer (separate Laws).