Laws of the Game
The Laws of the Game (LOTG) are the rules that help define football. The Laws of the Game are the only rules of football set and written by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The laws mention everything that defines football such as the number of players a team should have, the game length, the size of the field and ball, the type and nature of fouls that referees may penalise, the frequently misinterpreted offside law, and the other laws. It is the task of the referee to interpret and enforce the Laws of the Game during a football match.
Rules
The current Laws of the Game consist of seventeen individual laws, each law containing several rules and directions:
- Law 1: The Field of Play
- Law 2: The Ball
- Law 3: The Players
- Law 4: The Players' Equipment
- Law 5: The Referee
- Law 6: The Other Match Officials
- Law 7: The Duration of the Match
- Law 8: The start and restart of play
- Law 9: Ball in and out of play
- Law 10: The Method of Scoring
- Law 11: Offside
- Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
- Law 13: Free kicks (direct and indirect)
- Law 14: The Penalty Kick
- Law 15: The Throw-in
- Law 16: The Goal Kick
- Law 17: The Corner Kick