The IFAB

The IFAB clarifies VAR protocol for attacking-team offences before the ball is in play ➡️ bit.ly/VAR_clarification

A midfielder attempts to pass the ball to an attacker who is in an offside position, a few metres from a defender. The defender, who has noticed the attacker, moves towards the ball and instinctively blocks the pass, so that the ball goes out for a corner kick.

What is the correct decision if the attacker did not attempt to play the ball and did not impact the defender’s ability to play it?

An attacker comes very close to the goalkeeper, who has caught the ball inside their penalty area. While the goalkeeper is releasing the ball to pass it with their hands, the attacker jumps in front of the goalkeeper to block the pass (without making contact with the opponent). Immediately after the ball is thrown, it rebounds off the attacker’s head and goes into the goal.

What is the correct decision?

The position of the ball for a penalty kick is correct if part of the ball:
➡ touches the centre of the penalty mark, and/or
➡ overhangs the centre of the penalty mark (in the air)

Law 14 – The Penalty Kick does NOT require the ball to be:
➡ wholly on the penalty mark
➡ touching the penalty mark

DECISION

As long as any part of the ball is over the centre of the penalty mark, it is correctly positioned, and the referee allows the penalty kick to be taken.

If this condition is not met (e.g. the ball overhangs the penalty mark, but not the centre of the mark), the referee instructs the player taking the kick to adjust the ball position before it is kicked.

Practical advice: The kicker may slightly change the ball position if this is justified by the ground conditions and permitted by the referee.

BACKGROUND

Until 2024, the Law stated that the ball must be ‘on the penalty mark’. The position for the penalty kick was clarified to provide clearer guidance and thus avoid disputes and/or delays, especially when the penalty mark is not a ‘spot’.

A defender (Team A) attempts to kick the ball out of the penalty area. The ball deflects off another defender (Team A) and goes to an attacker (Team B), who has been in an offside position since the first defender kicked the ball. The attacker controls the ball and is unfairly challenged (careless tackle) by an opponent inside Team A’s penalty area.

What is the correct decision?

Until 2019, any number of players were allowed to contest a dropped ball and the referee could not decide who may contest it or its outcome.

In 2019, the procedure was changed so that the ball is dropped for only one player (as described in Law 8.2) and all other players (of both teams) must remain 4 m (4.5 yds) from the ball until it is in play (i.e. it touches the ground).

PRACTICAL ADVICE

Until the ball touches the ground:
➡ it cannot touch the player receiving the dropped ball (otherwise, the referee drops the ball again)
➡ all other players must respect the required distance (otherwise, the referee may caution* the offending player(s) and then drops the ball again)

*Failing to respect the required distance at a dropped ball is a cautionable offence. In the first instance, the referee usually asks the player to retreat 4 metres. If the player does not comply, the referee shows a yellow card. This applies to players of both teams.

After the ball touches the ground:
➡ it is in play
➡ any player may approach the ball and touch it
➡ it is not an offence if a team-mate or an opponent touches the ball before the player for whom the ball was dropped
➡ an opponent may fairly challenge that player for the ball

EXAMPLES

1️⃣ Play is restarted with a dropped ball for a Team A player in the middle of the field. After the ball has touched the ground, an opponent (Team B), who was more than 4 m away, quickly runs to the ball and plays it first. Surprised by this action, the Team A player pulls the opponent to stop a promising attack (SPA).

Decision: The opponent was allowed to play the ball before the player for whom the ball was dropped because the required distance was respected until the ball touched the ground. From that moment, the ball was in play and any player could play it (no offence by Team B). Consequently, the referee punishes the pulling offence committed by Team A with a direct free kick and a caution (yellow card) for unsporting behaviour (SPA).

2️⃣ Play is restarted with a dropped ball for a defender (Team A) outside their penalty area. After the ball has touched the ground, an opposing attacker (Team B) who was more than 4 m away, runs towards the defender, plays the ball first and kicks it directly into the goal.

Decision: The opponent was allowed to play the ball before the player for whom the ball was dropped provided that the required distance was respected until the ball touched the ground. As a goal cannot be scored from a dropped ball unless two or more players have touched the ball, the referee awards a goal kick to Team A.

While the player taking the penalty kick is running to the ball, their team-mate touches the penalty area line with the foot before the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper saves the kick and the ball rebounds into the field to the attacking team player who encroached, who then plays the ball and scores.

What is the correct decision?

A defender takes a throw-in and throws the ball to their goalkeeper (a team-mate). The goalkeeper controls the ball with their foot outside their penalty area and notices that an opposing attacker is running quickly towards the ball, so the goalkeeper dribbles into the penalty area and then picks the ball up with their hands.

What is the correct decision?

A defender passes the ball under pressure from an attacker, who commits a late, reckless tackle shortly after the ball is played by the defender. The ball remains on the field of play, and the attacker’s team gains possession.

What is the correct decision?

An attacking player scores in the opponents’ goal after the ball has touched their shoulder. What is the correct decision?