Laws of the Game

2020/21

8. Player outside 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

If a player who requires the referee’s permission to re-enter the field of play re-enters without the referee’s permission, the referee must:

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• stop play (not immediately if the player does not interfere with play or a match official or if the advantage can be applied)

• caution the player for entering the field of play without permission

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If the referee stops play, it must be restarted:

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• with a direct free kick from the position of the interference

• with an indirect free kick from the position of the ball when play was stopped if there was no interference

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A player who crosses a boundary line as part of a playing movement does not commit an offence