Laws of the Game

2020/21

7. Extra persons on the field of play

1 Number of Players

2. Number of substitutions

3. Substitution procedure

4. Changing the goalkeeper

5. Offences and sanctions

6. Players and substitutes sent off

7. Extra persons on the field of play

8. Player outside the field of play

9. Goal scored with an extra person on the field of play

10. Team captain

The coach and other officials named on the team list (with the exception of players or substitutes) are team officials. Anyone not named on the team list as a player, substitute or team official is an outside agent.

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If a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player or outside agent enters the field of play, the referee must:

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• only stop play if there is interference with play

• have the person removed when play stops

• take appropriate disciplinary action

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If play is stopped and the interference was by:

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• a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player, play restarts with a direct free kick or penalty kick

• an outside agent, play restarts with a dropped ball

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If a ball is going into the goal and the interference does not prevent a defending player playing the ball, the goal is awarded if the ball enters the goal (even if contact was made with the ball) unless the interference was by the attacking team