LAWS OF THE GAME OF FOOTBALL
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is the administrative unit that determines the Laws of the Game of association football. IFAB came into existence since 1886 to set up standardized Laws for international competition, and has since been the custodian of the internationally used Laws.
World football governing body FIFA, recognizes IFAB’s jurisdiction over the Laws.
Ebwaves will take you through some of the Laws of our beautiful game of football.
LAW 1: THE FIELD OF PLAY
- Field surface
The pitch must be a wholly natural or wholly artificial playing surface except where competition rules permit the mixture of of artificial and natural materials (hybrid system).
The colour of artificial surfaces must be green.
The surface must meet the standard requirements of the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf or the International Match Standard, unless otherwise for games between clubs and FIFA affiliated nations.
- Field markings
The field of play or pitch must be rectangular in shape and marked with white continuous lines.
The markings must not be dangerous. Other lines are allowed as long as they are distinguishable from the football lines.
The two longer boundary lines are touchlines. The two shorter lines are goal lines.
There is the halfway line, which divides the pitch into two halves and joins the midpoint of the two touchlines.
A circle with a radius of 9.15m (10yds) is marked around the centre mark which is at the midpoint of the halfway line.
- Dimensions
The touchline must be longer than the goal-line.
• Length (touchline):
• minimum 90m (100yds)
• maximum 120m (130yds)
• Length (goal-line):
• minimum 45m (50yds)
• maximum 90m (100yds)
Competitions may determine the length of the goal-line and touchline within the above dimensions.
- Dimensions for international matches
• Length (touchline):
• minimum 100m (100yds)
• maximum 110m (120yds)
• Length (goal-line):
• minimum 64m (70yds)
• maximum 75m (80yds)
Competitions may determine the length of the goal-line and touchline within the above dimensions.
- The goal area
Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal-line, 5.5m (6yds) from the inside of each goalpost and are extended into the field of play for 5.5m (6yds) and are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal-line.
The area within these lines and the goal-line is the goal area.
- The penalty area
Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal-line, 16.5m (18yds) from the inside of each goalpost and are extended into the field of play for 16.5m (18yds) and joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal-line. The area within these lines and the goal-line is the penalty area.
A penalty mark is made 11m (12yards) from the midpoint between the goalposts within each penalty area. And then an arc of circle with a radius of 9.15m (10yds) from the centre of each penalty mark is drawn outside the penalty area.
- The corner area
The corner area is defined by a quarter circle with a radius of 1m (1yd) from each corner flagpost drawn inside the field of play.
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