Download FIFA Laws of the Game 2019/20
If you are a football fan, player, coach, or referee, you need to know the rules and regulations that govern the beautiful game. The FIFA Laws of the Game are the official documents that define how football should be played at all levels, from grassroots to professional. They cover everything from the size of the pitch, to the equipment, to the fouls and misconducts, to the video assistant referee (VAR) protocol.
download fifa laws of the game 2019 20
In this article, you will learn about the history and evolution of FIFA and its Laws of the Game, as well as the latest changes and amendments that were introduced in 2019/20. You will also discover how referees communicate with their signals, how to become a FIFA referee yourself, and how FIFA organizes and displays its tournaments using tables. By the end of this article, you will have a comprehensive understanding of the FIFA Laws of the Game 2019/20 and why they are essential for football's fairness, integrity, and development.
History of FIFA and the Laws of the Game
FIFA (French: Fédération Internationale de Football Association) is the international governing body of association football, futsal, and beach soccer. It is one of the world's oldest and largest NGOs, being founded on 21 May 1904 in Paris by seven national associations from Europe. It has since expanded to include 211 member associations from six regional confederations.
The first 'universal' football laws were drawn up in 1863 by The Football Association in England, but they were not widely accepted by other countries. In 1886, The International Football Association Board (IFAB) was founded by The FA, Scottish FA, FA of Wales, and Irish FA as the worldwide body with sole responsibility for developing and preserving the Laws of the Game. FIFA joined IFAB in 1913.
Since then, IFAB has revised and updated the Laws of the Game regularly to reflect the changes in football's culture, technology, and challenges. The current Laws of the Game consist of 17 individual laws, each containing several rules and directions. They are applicable to all football matches throughout the world from grassroots to professional level.
FIFA Legal Handbook 2019/20
The FIFA Legal Handbook is a publication that features a unique overview of the latest regulations, statutory documents, and circulars issued by FIFA, thus providing valuable support to the football community at large.
The 2019/20 edition of the FIFA Legal Handbook includes:
The Regulations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
The updated versions of the FIFA Statutes, the Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, the Disciplinary Code, the Code of Ethics, the Anti-Doping Regulations, and the Football Emergency Medicine Manual
The latest circulars and decisions of the FIFA Congress, the FIFA Council, and the FIFA Disciplinary Committee
The FIFA Governance Report 2019
The FIFA Activity Report 2019
The FIFA Financial Report 2019
The FIFA Legal Handbook 2019/20 is available for download in PDF format from the official FIFA website. It is a must-read for anyone who wants to stay informed and updated on the legal aspects of football.
Regulations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
The FIFA World Cup is the most prestigious and popular football tournament in the world, involving 32 national teams competing for the ultimate glory every four years. The next edition of the World Cup will take place in Qatar from 21 November to 18 December 2022, marking the first time that the event will be held in the Middle East and in winter.
The Regulations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are the official rules and procedures that govern the qualification and final phases of the tournament. They cover topics such as:
The eligibility and registration of players and officials
The format and schedule of matches
The use of VAR and other technical equipment
The disciplinary measures and sanctions
The media rights and obligations
The anti-discrimination and anti-racism policies
The safety and security measures
The medical and anti-doping controls
The marketing and commercial regulations
The dispute resolution mechanisms
The Regulations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 are binding for all participants and stakeholders of the tournament, including FIFA, the host association, the confederations, the member associations, the players, the officials, the match agents, the media representatives, and the sponsors. They aim to ensure that the World Cup is conducted in a fair, transparent, and professional manner. Changes and Amendments to the Laws of the Game
The Laws of the Game are constantly evolving to keep up with the changes in football's culture, technology, and challenges. The 2019/20 edition of the Laws of the Game introduced some significant changes and amendments that affect the way the game is played and officiated. Some of the main changes and amendments are:
The introduction of a new handball offence, where it is an offence if a player:
deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, including moving the hand/arm towards the ball
gains possession/control of the ball after it has touched their hand/arm and then scores, or creates a goal-scoring opportunity
scores in the opponents goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper
The clarification of the dropped ball procedure, where the ball is dropped for the goalkeeper (if the play was stopped inside the penalty area) or for one player of the team that last touched the ball (if the play was stopped outside the penalty area). All other players (of both teams) must be at least 4 m (4.5 yds) from the ball until it is in play.
The modification of the substitution procedure, where a player who is being substituted must leave the field by the nearest point on the boundary line, unless otherwise directed by the referee.
The revision of the goal kick and free kick procedure, where the ball is in play once it is kicked and clearly moves. It does not have to leave the penalty area before it can be touched by another player.
The adjustment of the penalty kick procedure, where the goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on/in line with the goal line when the kick is taken; they cannot stand behind or in front of the line.
These changes and amendments are intended to make the game more fair, consistent, and enjoyable for all participants and spectators. They also aim to reduce confusion, controversy, and time-wasting. FIFA Referee Signals
Referees are the officials who enforce the Laws of the Game and control the match in cooperation with the assistant referees and, where applicable, the fourth official, the reserve assistant referee, and the video assistant referee. They use various hand gestures to communicate with the players, the assistants, and the other officials during the match. These signals help to convey the referee's decisions and instructions clearly and quickly.
Common Referee Signals and Their Meanings
There are 23 common referee signals that are used in football matches. They are listed below with images and explanations:
Signal
Meaning
Start or restart play after a stoppage
Advantage: allow play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage
Direct free kick: award a free kick to a team following an offence by an opponent from which a goal can be scored directly
Indirect free kick: award a free kick to a team following an offence by an opponent from which a goal cannot be scored directly unless the ball touches another player before entering the goal
Penalty kick: award a penalty kick to a team following an offence by an opponent inside their own penalty area
Goal kick: award a goal kick to the defending team when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the attacking team, and a goal is not scored
Corner kick: award a corner kick to the attacking team when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, having last touched a player of the defending team, and a goal is not scored
Throw-in: award a throw-in to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball passes over the touchline, on the ground or in the air
Offside: indicate that a player is in an offside position and has committed an offside offence as defined by Law 11
Caution: show a yellow card to a player who is guilty of misconduct or unsporting behaviour as defined by Law 12
Send-off: show a red card to a player who is guilty of serious foul play, violent conduct, spitting, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, using offensive or abusive language or gestures, or receiving a second caution as defined by Law 12
Play on: indicate that no offence has occurred or that an advantage has been given
Stop play temporarily: indicate that play must be stopped for any reason not mentioned elsewhere in this table
End of play: indicate that the half or the match is over
Goal scored: point to the centre of the field to confirm that a goal has been scored
No goal: cross the arms in front of the chest to indicate that a goal has not been scored or has been disallowed
Video assistant referee (VAR): draw an imaginary rectangle with the index fingers to indicate that a decision is being reviewed or checked by the VAR
Video review: point to the earpiece to indicate that a decision is being reviewed by the referee using a pitchside monitor
Free kick distance: raise an arm horizontally to indicate that the defending team must retreat at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the ball for a free kick
Wall distance: hold both arms horizontally to indicate that the attacking team must retreat at least 1 m (1 yd) from the defensive wall for a free kick
Penalty mark distance: point to the penalty mark to indicate that the defending team must retreat behind the penalty mark for a penalty kick
How to Become a FIFA Referee
If you are interested in becoming a FIFA referee, you need to meet some requirements and follow some steps. Here are the main ones:
You must be a citizen of one of the FIFA member associations and be fluent in English.
You must be registered as a referee with your national association and have at least two years of experience at the highest domestic level.
You must pass a fitness test, a medical examination, and a theoretical and practical examination on the Laws of the Game.
You must be nominated by your national association and approved by FIFA.
You must attend regular training courses and seminars organized by FIFA and your confederation.
You must maintain a high standard of performance and conduct in your matches and comply with FIFA's Code of Ethics.
You must be available for international assignments and accept FIFA's decisions regarding your appointments.
You must retire from international refereeing when you reach the age of 45, unless otherwise decided by FIFA.
Becoming a FIFA referee is not easy, but it is rewarding. You will have the opportunity to officiate some of the most important and exciting matches in the world, as well as to travel, learn, and grow as a person and as a professional. the game better, to play it more fairly, and to enjoy it more fully. They will also help you to appreciate the work and dedication of FIFA and its referees, who strive to make football a global sport that unites people and promotes peace, respect, and solidarity.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about the FIFA Laws of the Game 2019/20:
Where can I download the FIFA Laws of the Game 2019/20?
You can download the FIFA Laws of the Game 2019/20 in PDF format from the official FIFA website:
What is the difference between the Laws of the Game and the Regulations for the FIFA World Cup?
The Laws of the Game are the general rules that apply to all football matches throughout the world, while the Regulations for the FIFA World Cup are the specific rules and procedures that apply to the qualification and final phases of the World Cup.
What are some of the benefits of using VAR in football matches?
VAR (video assistant referee) is a technology that allows referees to review certain decisions using video footage and a headset for communication. Some of the benefits of using VAR are:
It can correct clear and obvious errors or serious missed incidents by the referee
It can increase the accuracy and consistency of refereeing decisions
It can reduce unfair advantages or disadvantages for teams or players
It can enhance the credibility and transparency of football
How can I become a FIFA referee?
To become a FIFA referee, you need to meet some requirements and follow some steps, such as being a citizen of one of the FIFA member associations, being registered as a referee with your national association, passing a fitness test, a medical examination, and an examination on the Laws of the Game, being nominated by your national association and approved by FIFA, attending regular training courses and seminars, maintaining a high standard of performance and conduct, being available for international assignments, and retiring at 45.
How can I find out more about FIFA and its activities?
You can find out more about FIFA and its activities by visiting its official website: . There you can access information about its history, vision, mission, values, structure, governance, administration, finances, competitions, development programs, social responsibility initiatives, news, media, and more. 44f88ac181