|  2025/2026 Law Changes - MUST Reads
https://fatunetwork.net/fifa-and-ifab-announce-key-changes-to-football-laws-for-2025-26-season/
Outline summary of Law changes
Individual Law changes
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
Changes to Law 1. The Field of Play > 1.11 Goal line technology (GLT)
Additional text:
Principles of GLT
(…)
The indication of whether a goal has been scored must be immediate and automatically confirmed within one second by the GLT system only to the match officials (via the referee’s watch, by vibration and visual signal, and/or via the referee’s earpiece/headset); it may also be sent to the video operation room (VOR).
Explanation:
Clarification that the GLT indication that a goal has been scored can be communicated via the referee’s earpiece/headset.
See Law 1
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
Changes to Law 3. The Players > 3.2 Number of substitutions
Additional text (after the ‘Return substitutions’ section):
Additional permanent concussion substitutions
Competitions may use additional permanent concussion substitutions in accordance with the protocol listed under ‘Notes and modifications’.
Explanation:
Competitions now have the option to use additional permanent concussion substitutions. The protocol details are contained in the ‘Notes and modifications’ section of the Laws of the Game.
See Law 3
Changes to Law 3. The Players > 3.10 Team captain
Additional text:
Each team must have a captain on the field of play who wears an identifying armband. The team captain has no special status or privileges but has a degree of responsibility for the behaviour of the team.
Explanation:
Teams must have a captain who can be easily identified by the referee. Armband details are outlined in Law 4.
See Law 3
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’
Changes to Law 4. The Players’ Equipment > 4.2 Compulsory equipment
Amended text:
The compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items:
(…)
shinguards – these must be made of a suitable material and be of an appropriate size to provide reasonable protection and be covered by the socks. Players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shinguards
(…)
Explanation:
Clarification that players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shinguards. Having provided this information in the definition of ‘shinguard’ in the Glossary, it is now also included in the Laws text.
See Law 4
Changes to Law 4. The Players’ Equipment > 4.2 Compulsory equipment
Additional text:
The compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items:
(…)
footwear
The team captain must wear the armband issued or authorised by the relevant competition organiser, or a single-coloured armband that may also have the word ‘captain’ or the letter ‘C’ or a translation thereof, which should also be a single colour (see also ‘General modifications’).
Explanation:
The captain must wear an armband which is simple and conforms to the requirements of Law 4 relating to slogans, statements, images and advertising. It may be issued or authorised by the competition organiser.
See Law 4
Changes to Law 4. The Players’ Equipment > 4.2 Compulsory equipment & 4.4 Other equipment
Amended text:
2. Compulsory equipment
The compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items:
(…)
Goalkeepers may wear tracksuit bottoms.
(…)
4. Other equipment
Non-dangerous protective equipment, for example gloves, headgear, facemasks and knee and arm protectors made of soft, lightweight padded material is permitted, as are goalkeepers’ caps and sports spectacles. Goalkeepers may wear tracksuit bottoms.
Explanation:
Reference to gloves has been included under ‘Other equipment’ to reflect the fact that they are widely used, especially by goalkeepers. Reference to tracksuit bottoms for goalkeepers has been removed from ‘Compulsory equipment’ and included under ‘Other equipment’ to accurately reflect the fact that they are not compulsory.
See Law 4
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
Changes to Law 12. Fouls and Misconduct > 12.3 Disciplinary action
Amended text:
(…)
Cautions for unsporting behaviour
There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour including if a player:
(…)
handles the ball to interfere with or stop a promising attack, except where the referee awards a penalty kick for a non-deliberate handball offence
denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick for a non-deliberate handball offence
(…)
Sending-off offences
A player, substitute or substituted player who commits any of the following offences is sent off:
denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a deliberate handball offence (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area)
denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a non-deliberate handball offence outside their own penalty area
(…)
Denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO)
(…)
Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a deliberate handball offence, the player is sent off wherever the offence occurs (except a goalkeeper within their penalty area).
Where a player denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by committing a non-deliberate handball offence and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned.
Explanation:
Non-deliberate handball offences are usually the result of a player attempting to play fairly, so when a penalty kick is awarded for such offences, the same philosophy should apply as for offences (fouls) which are an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for the ball, i.e. DOGSO offences result in a yellow card and SPA offences result in no card. Deliberate handball remains a red-card offence when a penalty kick is awarded, as it is similar to holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball etc.
See Law 12
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)
Changes to Law 14. The Penalty Kick > 14.1 Procedure
Amended text:
The ball must be stationary, on with part of the ball touching or overhanging the centre of the penalty mark, and the goalposts, crossbar and goal net must not be moving.
Explanation:
Clarification regarding the ball position for a penalty kick, as there can be disputes and/or delays, especially when the penalty mark is not a ‘spot’. Part of the ball must touch or overhang the centre of the penalty mark (just as the ball must be inside the corner area, including overhanging the corner arc, at a corner kick). As with other positional matters, if ground conditions dictate a slight change, this is a decision for the referee.
See Law 14
Changes to Law 14. The Penalty Kick > 14.2 Offences and sanctions
Additional text:
(…)
If, before the ball is in play, one of the following occurs:
a team-mate of the player taking the penalty kick is penalised for encroachment only if:
the encroachment clearly impacted on the goalkeeper; or
the encroaching player plays the ball or challenges an opponent for the ball and then scores, attempts to score or creates a goal-scoring opportunity
a team-mate of the goalkeeper is penalised for encroachment only if:
the encroachment clearly impacted on the kicker; or
the encroaching player plays the ball or challenges an opponent for the ball and this prevents the opponents from scoring, attempting to score or creating a goal-scoring opportunity
(…)
Explanation:
Player encroachment can be difficult to detect and manage, especially at the lower levels of the game, where there may be no neutral assistant referees. However, it can easily be identified by the video assistant referee, and if Law 14 were to be applied strictly, most penalty kicks would be retaken. Since encroachment rarely affects the outcome of the kick (only if the ball rebounds into play), the same principle should apply to player encroachment as to goalkeeper encroachment, i.e. it is penalised only if it has an impact.
See Law 14
Changes to Law 14. The Penalty Kick > 14.3 Summary table
Amended text:
Explanation:
Player encroachment can be difficult to detect and manage, especially at the lower levels of the game, where there may be no neutral assistant referees. However, it can easily be identified by the video assistant referee, and if Law 14 were to be applied strictly, most penalty kicks would be retaken. Since encroachment rarely affects the outcome of the kick (only if the ball rebounds into play), the same principle should apply to player encroachment as to goalkeeper encroachment, i.e. it is penalised only if it has an impact.
See Law 14
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
Changes to Guidelines for temporary dismissals (sins bins)
Temporary dismissal period
(…)
The referee should include in the temporary dismissal period any time ‘lost’ for a stoppage for which ‘additional time’ will be allowed at the end of the half (e.g. substitution, injury, goal celebration, etc.)
Competitions must decide who will help the referee time the dismissal period – it could be the responsibility of a delegate, fourth official or neutral assistant referee; conversely it could be a team official
Once the temporary dismissal period has been completed, the player can return from the touchline with the referee’s permission, when the ball is next out of play
The referee has the final decision as to when the player can return
A temporarily dismissed player can only be substituted after the temporary dismissal period has ended (and only if the team has not used all its permitted substitutes and/or substitution opportunities, if applicable)
(…)
System A – temporary dismissal for all cautionable (YC) offences
All cautionable (YC) offences are punished with a temporary dismissal
A player who receives a second caution (YC) in the same match:
will serve a second temporary dismissal period and then take no further part in the match
may be replaced by a substitute at the end of the second temporary dismissal period if the player’s team has not used its maximum number of substitutes and/or substitution opportunities, if applicable (this is because the team has already been ‘punished’ by playing without that player for two temporary dismissal periods)
System B – temporary dismissal for some cautionable (YC) offences*
A predefined list of cautionable (YC) offences will be punished by a temporary dismissal
All other cautionable (YC) offences are punished with a yellow card but no temporary dismissal
A player who receives two cautions (YCs) in the same match is sent off (RC), even if one caution is/both cautions are for a temporary dismissal offence
*Some competitions may find it valuable to use temporary dismissals only for offences relating to ‘inappropriate’ behaviour, e.g.
Simulation
Deliberately delaying the opposing team’s restart of the match
Dissent or verbal comments or gestures
Stopping or interfering with a promising attack by holding, pulling, pushing or deliberate handball
Kicker illegally feinting at a penalty kick
Explanation:
To help manage temporary dismissals, a temporarily dismissed player can return to the field of play only during a stoppage after the end of the temporary dismissal period, i.e. not while the ball is in play
If a temporary dismissal period is not completed at the end of the first half of extra time, it continues at the start of the second half of extra time (a temporary dismissal period cannot continue after the end of the second half of extra time, since temporary dismissals are not used in penalties (penalty
shoot-out))
System B, which uses temporary dismissals as an additional sanction for specific offences only, has been simplified so that any two cautionable offences in the same match will result in the player being (permanently) sent off (RC)
‘Handball’ has been changed to ‘deliberate handball’ in the list of offences that might be suitable for a temporary dismissal if they stop or interfere with a promising attack (System B)
See Guidelines for temporary dismissals (sin bins)
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