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Rule 2: The ball: The ball must be spherical and have a circumference of 68-71cm and a weight of 396-453g. The ball must be white or multi-coloured.
Rule 3: The number of players: The number of players who actively take part in the game must not exceed 11 per team; one of them is the goalkeeper. According to the rules, two players can be substituted at any time in the game. A swap between goalkeeper and outfield player is possible during break in play if the linesman is informed.
Rule 4: The player's equipment: The player's equipment must not include any that could endanger another player. Footwear is not compulsory. Studs can be made of leather, rubber, plastic or aluminum: their diameter should not be less than 12.7cm and they should not be more than 19mm long. The goalkeepers clothes should stand out from those of the outfield players. Black is reserved for the officials and not even the goalkeeper is allowed to wear a black pullover.
Rule 5: The referee: The referee has to enforce the rules of the game and decide any disputed points. In particular he has to refrain from imposing penalties in all cases where he is convinced that he would be creating an advantage for the team that has broken the rules of the game. He has to make notes on the course of the game, control playing time and allow any lost time to be played afterwards. He has the power to interrupt the game or call it off completely at any time because of a violation of the rules, bad weather, disturbances from spectators or for other reasons. From the moment he steps on the pitch he has the right to caution a player for improper or unsportsmanlike action and to bar him from further participation in the game if a repetition occurs. He is allowed to prevent any other people, apart from the players and linesmen, from coming onto the pitch. He has to stop play if in his opinion a player is seriously injured. He has to send off any player who in his opinion is guilty of an act of violence, serious foul play or insulting remarks. After each interruption he give the signal for play to continue. He decides whether the ball conforms to the rules and can be used for play. Black is reserved for the vest and shirts of the referee and the linesmen.
Rule 6: The linesmen: The linesmen have to show when the ball goes out of play and which team is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or throw-in. They help the referee to run the game in accordance with the rules. The referee can relieve a linesmen who in his opinion is not capable of carrying out his duties and decide on a replacement.
Rule 7: The length of the game: The length of the game consists, when no other arrangement has been made, of two halves each of 45 minutes duration. Lost playing time must be made up in the appropriate half. Normally half-time should not exceed 10 minutes, unless it is with the referees agreement. In cup matches, different regulation apply according to the competition. In home tournaments of a single leg if the tie is drawn it is first replayed on the ground of the team that was originally drawn away. Subsequent replays are normally played on neutral territory until one team is the winner. The result of two-leg ties is based on the aggregate score after the two matches. In some cases extra time is played, of two 15 minute periods, after a short break. In European competitions, penalty kicks may be take to decide the result if the scores are level at the end of extra time.
Rule 8: The beginning of the game: The beginning of the game is announced by the referees signal. Before the beginning of the game, a coin is tossed to decide which half each team will start off in or who kicks off. Whoever wins the toss can choose between the half of the pich or the kick off. To start the game there is a kick off in which one player kicks the ball from the center spot into the opponents half of the field. At the kick off the ball is only in play when it has covered the same distance as its circumference. A goal cannot be scored direct from a kick off. After a goal has been scored, the game is restarted in the same way by one player from the team against which the goal was scored. After half time a player from the team that did not kick off at the beginning of the game restarts play.
Rule 9: The ball in and out of play: The ball is out of the game when all of it has crossed over the goal or touchline either on the ground or in the air or when the referee has stopped play. The ball is in the game at all other times, even when it rebounds off the goal posts, the crossbar, the corner flag or an official on the field of play onto the pitch.
Rule 10: How a goal is scored: A goal is scored when a ball played according to the rules has crossed over the goal line between the goal posts and under the crossbar completely, i.e. its full diameter. The team that has scored the most goals in one game is the winner. When no goal has been scored or when both teams have scored the same number of goals, the game is regarded as being 'drawn'.
Rule 11: Offside: A player is offside when he is nearer the opponents goal line than the ball at the moment the ball is being played. There are four exceptions: 1. The player is in his own half of the field. 2. Two players from the opposing team are nearer their goal line than the striker. 3. The ball has been touched or played last by an opponent. 4. The ball comes straight from a corner kick, goal kick, throw in or a drop ball (referees ball). Violations against these rules are punished with a free kick. A player in an offside position as such should not be penalized when he is not in the referees opinion interfering with play or an opponent, i.e. when he can gain no advantage from his offside position.
Rule 12: Banned play and unsportsmanlike acts: This establishes what constitutes banned play and unsportsmanlike actions; it is therefore in practice the most important rule. Accordingly, a player is punished by a direct free kick to the opposing side when he purposely: 1. kicks or tries to kick an opponent 2. deliberately trips an opponent 3. jumps at an opponent 4. jostles an opponent 5. jostles an opponent in a vigorous or dangerous manner 6. pushes an opponent from behind when the latter is not blocking him 7. strikes or tries to strike an opponent 8. holds on to an opponent 9. pushes an opponent 10. deliberately touches the ball with his hands (exception being the goalkeeper in his own penalty area) If a player commits one of the above offenses on purpose in his own penalty area, he is punished by a penalty kick; this is regardless of where the ball is at the time.
A player is punished by an indirect free kick when he: 1. plays in a dangerous manner 2. jostles incorrectly without the ball being within reach 3. blocks his opponent without trying to go for the ball 4. jostles the goalkeeper except when the latter is holding the ball, or hinders an opponent or has left his own goal area 5. the goalkeeper takes more than four paces with the ball without releasing it 6. the goalkeeper in the referees opinion slows down the game.
In any case the prerequisite for these is that they are committed on purpose, i.e. negligently or with lack of foresight. Rule 13: The free kick: There are two types of free kicks that the referee can award: 1. direct free kick; a goal can be scored direct from it without another player having to touch the ball 2. indirect free kick; a goal can only be scored from it when the ball is touched by another player first When taking a free kick, no player in the opposing team is allowed nearer than 9.15 meters, he can however stand on his own goal line when an indirect free kick is taken in the penalty area. When a free kick is taken, the ball must be stationary; it is only in play when it has covered the same distance as its circumference. The player taking the free kick is only allowed to touch the ball again after another player has touched it. Offenses against these regulations are punished with an indirect free kick. If players come nearer than 9.15 meters to the ball before the free kick has been taken, the referee should delay the free kick until the offending player retreats the required distance. If he does not, he can be cautioned.
Rule 14: The penalty kick: Direct free kicks are taken as penalties when the offense takes place in the penalty area. When it is being taken, all players with the exception of the player taking the penalty and the opposing goalkeeper must be on the pitch but outside the penalty area and at least 9.15 meters from the penalty spot, until the ball has rolled its circumference. The goalkeeper must stand stationary on his goal line between the posts until the ball is kicked. The ball must be kicked forward. The offside rule is not involved with a penalty kick; all players apart from the goalkeeper must be behind the ball.
Rule 15: The throw in: A throw in is given when the ball has crossed over the touchline completely, either along the ground or in the air. The throw in is given to the team that did not touch the ball last. The player taking the throw in must turn his face towards the pitch at the moment of the throw in and stand with a part of each foot on or outside the touchline. The throw in must be made with both hands above the head. The player throwing in must not play the ball before another player has touched it. A goal cannot be scored direct from a throw in. If the throw in is illegal, the opposing team is awarded a throw in. The moment the throw in is being taken, the offside rule does not apply. This can therefore be used for sudden attacks.
Rule 16: The goal kick: A goal kick is given when the ball goes completely over the goal line either in the air or along the ground and when it has been touched last by a player of the attacking team. With a goal kick the ball is in play when it leaves the penalty area. If it does not do this, the goal kick must be taken again. A goal cannot be scored direct from a goal kick. When a goal kick is being taken the opposing players must be outside the penalty area. The player who is taking the goal kick is only allowed to play the ball again when another player has touched it. The goal kick is taken from the ground in the goal area; the goalkeeper is not allowed to punt the ball upfield.
Rule 17: The corner kick: A corner is granted when the ball goes completely over the goal line either in the air or along the ground and has been touched last by a player in the defending team. The corner kick is taken, with the ball stationary, from inside the quarter-circle and on the side of the goal where the ball went out. When the corner kick is being taken, the corner flag should not be removed and opposing players must remain at least 9.15 meters away from the ball until the corner kick has been taken. The player taking the corner kick is only allowed to play the ball again when another player has touched it. A goal can be scored direct from a corner kick.