The 121st Annual General Meeting of the International Football
Association Board (IFAB) took place in Manchester, England on 03 March 2007. The
amendments to the Laws of the Game made at the meeting and the various
instructions and directives are listed below.
1. AMENDMENTS TO THE LAWS OF THE GAME AND DECISIONS
OF THE BOARD
Law 1 – The Field of Play
IFAB Decision 4
Present Text
There shall be no advertising of any kind within the technical area or within
one metre from the touchline and outside the field of play on the ground.
Further, no advertising shall be allowed in the area between the goal line and
the goal nets.
New Text
There should be no advertising of any kind on the ground within the
technical area or within one meter from the touchline. Further, no advertising
shall be allowed in the area between the goal line and the goal nets.
Advice to Referees: The change is likely to affect only matches played at
the highest competitive level where advertising is more commonly seen. One
practical effect of the change is to allow advertising to be displayed on the
shelters or canopies which may be used to cover the team benches.
Law 4 – The Players Equipment
Basic Equipment
Present Text
a jersey or shirt
shorts – if thermal undershorts are worn, they are of the same main color as the
shorts.
New Text
a jersey or shirt – if undergarments are worn, the color of the sleeve should be
the same main color as the sleeve of the jersey or shirt.
shorts – if undershorts are worn, they are of the same main color as the shorts.
Advice to Referees: The general purpose of this change is to ensure that
the visible color of any portion of a garment worn underneath the jersey or
shorts is consistent with the main color of the jersey or shorts. Accordingly,
the referee need not be concerned about the color or any portion of an
undergarment which cannot be seen.
Law 4 – The Players Equipment
Basic Equipment
IFAB Decision 1
Present Text
Players must not reveal undershirts that contain slogans or advertising.
A player removing his jersey to reveal slogans or advertising will be sanctioned
by the competition organizer.
Jerseys must have sleeves.
New Text
Players must not reveal undershirts that contain slogans or advertising. The
basic compulsory equipment must not contain any political, religious or personal
statements.
A player removing his jersey to reveal slogans or advertising will be sanctioned
by the competition organizer. The team of a player whose basic compulsory
equipment contains political, religious or personal slogans or statements will
be sanctioned by the competition organizer or by FIFA.
Jerseys must have sleeves.
Advice to Referees: The focus of this change is on the commercial,
political, religious or personal statement itself, not the method by which it is
displayed. This includes wearing such statements directly on any part of the
player uniform (normal manufacturer’s names and logos are excepted) or revealing
such statements by removing any part of the uniform (whether the statement being
revealed is on an undergarment or directly on the player’s skin). Referees are
reminded that, although they do not have responsibility for sanctioning players
who violate this restriction under ordinary circumstances, they must still
include details of any violations in their match report and they continue to
have the authority to sanction players if what is displayed involves abusive,
insulting, or offensive language or images. Referees should consult prior
memoranda and guidelines on the issue of jersey sleeves.
The Fourth Official
Present Text
The fourth official may be appointed under the competition rules and officiates
if any of the three match officials is unable to continue. He assists the
referee at all times.
New Text
The fourth official may be appointed under the competition rules and officiates
if any of the three match officials is unable to continue, unless a reserve
assistant referee is appointed. He assists the referee at all times.
A reserve assistant referee may be also be appointed under competition rules.
His only duty shall be to replace an assistant referee who is unable to continue
or to replace the fourth official, as required.
Advice to Referees: A competition authority may provide a more specific
order of priority for a fourth official in a situation where an official is
unable to continue (including the appointment of a reserve assistant referee).
In the absence of such provisions, the fourth official may substitute for any of
the three match officials.
Additional Instructions for Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials
Celebration of a Goal
New Text
A player must be cautioned when: he covers his head or face with a mask or
other similar item
Advice to Referees: This change in the Law is intended only to extend the
existing provision that a player who removes the jersey or uses the jersey to
cover the head as part of a goal celebration has committed misconduct and is to
be cautioned.
These amendments to the Laws of the Game take effect as
from July 1, 2007.