Football's new laws: Penalties, backpasses, handballs and subs

[RHB]

I've nicked this from a BBC website article as it gives a pretty comprehensive overview of the new laws this season. A bit long, but it tells us what to expect and what not to expect when we're screaming at refs during a game this season. Enjoy!!

Penalties
The goalkeeper must have one of his/her feet partly on the goalline (or above it if jumping) when the kick is taken. They cannot stand behind or in front of the line.

In other tweaks to the penalty laws, the kick cannot be taken while the goalkeeper is touching the woodwork or nets - or if the net or posts are still moving after being touched.
One other change means an attacker can take a penalty if they needed treatment (as long as the treatment is quick). Before now, a player would have to go off the field until after the kick was taken if he needed medical help.

Drop balls
Drop balls can no longer be contested, but the change is more positive than it sounds.
If play is stopped, the ball will be dropped to a player on the team that last touched the ball - and where they touched it. All other players must be 4.5 yards (4m) away.
What that means is if a team's attack is stopped, they will get the ball back in that position - instead of the opponents booting the ball down the field. However, any play stopped in a penalty area will be returned to the goalkeeper, even if the attacking team had the ball.

Another big change now sees a drop ball awarded if the ball hits the referee and goes to the other team as a result, or if the referee accidentally scores a goal (as happened in the Dutch fourth division a week before the law change).

Handballs
The law remains that deliberate handball is an offence. But accidental handball will also be a free-kick if...

• the ball goes into the goal off an attacker
• a player gets the ball using his arm or hand and then scores, or creates a goalscoring opportunity
• a player's hand or arm has made their body "unnaturally bigger"
• the player's arm or hand is above their shoulder (unless the player has controlled the ball onto his own arm or hand)

But a handball will not be a free-kick if...

• the ball is knocked on to a hand by the player in question or a nearby player
• the arm or hand is close to their body and "has not made their body unnaturally bigger"
• if a player is falling and the ball touches their hand or arm when it is between their body and the ground to support the body - but not extended to make the body bigger

Another change to the handball rule relates to the goalkeeper.
If the goalkeeper attempts to clear ("release into play") a throw-in or backpass and their clearance fails, then they can handle the ball.
Ifab says this is because "when the goalkeeper clearly kicks or tries to kick the ball into play, this shows no intention to handle the ball".

Goal-kicks
Another change involving goalkeepers is to goal-kicks, which can now be played to a team-mate who is inside the penalty area.
The law now says the ball is considered in play once the kick is taken. Until now a goal-kick had to be retaken if it did not leave the box.
It could make a big difference to teams like Liverpool and Manchester City, whose defenders could drop into the box to receive a goal-kick from Alisson or Ederson.
Opponents must still remain outside the penalty area until the kick is taken.

Free-kicks
When a defending team has three or more players in a wall, the attacking team can no longer place a player in or next to it.
If an attacker is standing within one yard (1m) of the wall when the kick is taken, they will be penalised with an indirect free-kick.
Another change means - similar to the goal-kick change above - if a defending team takes a free-kick in their own area, the ball is considered in play immediately and does not have to leave the box before another player touches it. Again, opponents must remain outside the box.

Quick free-kicks
If the referee is about to show a yellow or red card but the non-offending team takes a quick free-kick and creates a scoring chance, the official can come back and show the card when the ball goes out of play.
Before now, the card would have to be shown before the free-kick could be taken.
However, if the referee had distracted the offending team by starting to show the card, the quick free-kick is not allowed.
Also if the offence was going to be a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, but the opposition take a quick free-kick, then the player will only be booked because the other team are considered to have restarted their attack.

Substitutions
We will be seeing less of this in the future, because subs will not always be coming off where the replacement is coming on
A player who is being substituted must leave the pitch by the nearest point on the touchline or byeline - unless the referee says they can leave quickly at the halfway line - or elsewhere for safety or injury reasons.
This change is to stop players time-wasting. Any player who "infringes the spirit of this law" will be booked for unsporting behaviour.

Cards for coaches
A team official guilty of misconduct can be shown a yellow card or red card. If the offender cannot be identified, the senior coach in the technical area at the time will receive the card.
That new system was trialled in the EFL during the 2018-19 season and is now being introduced worldwide.

The other changes
A player can now be booked for celebrating - for removing their shirt or celebrating with the fans - even if the goal is disallowed.
The team that wins the pre-match coin toss can now choose whether to take the kick-off or which goal to attack - previously they could only choose which goal to attack.
There is now a difference between cooling breaks (90 seconds to three minutes) and drinks breaks (maximum of one minute) in certain competitions played in high humidity and temperatures.
Multi-coloured or patterned undershirts are allowed if they are the same as the sleeve of the main shirt.

 

[MK Shrimper]

The Prem isn't using VAR for penalties. I think there would be a riot if what happened in the WWC happened at Stamford Bridge.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

This will be interesting in the future in penalty shoot outs, as the goalie moves both feet off the line in about half of all penalty's.

 

[rigsby]

They could of just turned the clock back for substitutions and allow the sub to come on whilst the player goes off. It was much quicker 40 years ago.

Haven't done anything to stop players stealing 10yds from a throw......Throw in the other way stops that.

Or how about time wasting on goal kicks. Rather than a pointless 90 minute yellow card for the keeper. How about an indirect free kick to the opposition, same as the drop kick rule.

 

[kaymac]

Why aren’t goal kicks taken on the same side of the six-yard box in which the ball goes off as happens with corners? Don’t know why the rule was ever changed, just allows keepers to waste even more time.

 

[kaymac]

I've nicked this from a BBC website article as it gives a pretty comprehensive overview of the new laws this season. A bit long, but it tells us what to expect and what not to expect when we're screaming at refs during a game this season. Enjoy!!

Penalties
The goalkeeper must have one of his/her feet partly on the goalline (or above it if jumping) when the kick is taken. They cannot stand behind or in front of the line.

In other tweaks to the penalty laws, the kick cannot be taken while the goalkeeper is touching the woodwork or nets - or if the net or posts are still moving after being touched.
One other change means an attacker can take a penalty if they needed treatment (as long as the treatment is quick). Before now, a player would have to go off the field until after the kick was taken if he needed medical help.

Drop balls
Drop balls can no longer be contested, but the change is more positive than it sounds.
If play is stopped, the ball will be dropped to a player on the team that last touched the ball - and where they touched it. All other players must be 4.5 yards (4m) away.
What that means is if a team's attack is stopped, they will get the ball back in that position - instead of the opponents booting the ball down the field. However, any play stopped in a penalty area will be returned to the goalkeeper, even if the attacking team had the ball.

Another big change now sees a drop ball awarded if the ball hits the referee and goes to the other team as a result, or if the referee accidentally scores a goal (as happened in the Dutch fourth division a week before the law change).

Handballs
The law remains that deliberate handball is an offence. But accidental handball will also be a free-kick if...

• the ball goes into the goal off an attacker
• a player gets the ball using his arm or hand and then scores, or creates a goalscoring opportunity
• a player's hand or arm has made their body "unnaturally bigger"
• the player's arm or hand is above their shoulder (unless the player has controlled the ball onto his own arm or hand)

But a handball will not be a free-kick if...

• the ball is knocked on to a hand by the player in question or a nearby player
• the arm or hand is close to their body and "has not made their body unnaturally bigger"
• if a player is falling and the ball touches their hand or arm when it is between their body and the ground to support the body - but not extended to make the body bigger

Another change to the handball rule relates to the goalkeeper.
If the goalkeeper attempts to clear ("release into play") a throw-in or backpass and their clearance fails, then they can handle the ball.
Ifab says this is because "when the goalkeeper clearly kicks or tries to kick the ball into play, this shows no intention to handle the ball".

Goal-kicks
Another change involving goalkeepers is to goal-kicks, which can now be played to a team-mate who is inside the penalty area.
The law now says the ball is considered in play once the kick is taken. Until now a goal-kick had to be retaken if it did not leave the box.
It could make a big difference to teams like Liverpool and Manchester City, whose defenders could drop into the box to receive a goal-kick from Alisson or Ederson.
Opponents must still remain outside the penalty area until the kick is taken.

Free-kicks
When a defending team has three or more players in a wall, the attacking team can no longer place a player in or next to it.
If an attacker is standing within one yard (1m) of the wall when the kick is taken, they will be penalised with an indirect free-kick.
Another change means - similar to the goal-kick change above - if a defending team takes a free-kick in their own area, the ball is considered in play immediately and does not have to leave the box before another player touches it. Again, opponents must remain outside the box.

Quick free-kicks
If the referee is about to show a yellow or red card but the non-offending team takes a quick free-kick and creates a scoring chance, the official can come back and show the card when the ball goes out of play.
Before now, the card would have to be shown before the free-kick could be taken.
However, if the referee had distracted the offending team by starting to show the card, the quick free-kick is not allowed.
Also if the offence was going to be a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, but the opposition take a quick free-kick, then the player will only be booked because the other team are considered to have restarted their attack.

Substitutions
We will be seeing less of this in the future, because subs will not always be coming off where the replacement is coming on
A player who is being substituted must leave the pitch by the nearest point on the touchline or byeline - unless the referee says they can leave quickly at the halfway line - or elsewhere for safety or injury reasons.
This change is to stop players time-wasting. Any player who "infringes the spirit of this law" will be booked for unsporting behaviour.

Cards for coaches
A team official guilty of misconduct can be shown a yellow card or red card. If the offender cannot be identified, the senior coach in the technical area at the time will receive the card.
That new system was trialled in the EFL during the 2018-19 season and is now being introduced worldwide.

The other changes
A player can now be booked for celebrating - for removing their shirt or celebrating with the fans - even if the goal is disallowed.
The team that wins the pre-match coin toss can now choose whether to take the kick-off or which goal to attack - previously they could only choose which goal to attack.
There is now a difference between cooling breaks (90 seconds to three minutes) and drinks breaks (maximum of one minute) in certain competitions played in high humidity and temperatures.
Multi-coloured or patterned undershirts are allowed if they are the same as the sleeve of the main shirt.

How to make a great game utter cr*p.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

The handball stuff is a minefield for officials, TV pundits will be all over it ripping decisions apart.
No drop balls? There have been very few proper ones for years so the change is legislation for the sake of it.
Free kicks and walls will be open to abuse unless refs are determined to uniformally implement the change with consistency.

 

[kaymac]

A bit extra regards the farce now known as VAR...

"The VAR can only penalise "encroachment by an attacker or defender who becomes directly involved in play if the penalty kick rebounds from the goalpost, crossbar or goalkeeper".


Leaves it wide open for different interpretations over what is or isn't deemed as direct involvement.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

A bit extra regards the farce now known as VAR...

"The VAR can only penalise "encroachment by an attacker or defender who becomes directly involved in play if the penalty kick rebounds from the goalpost, crossbar or goalkeeper".


Leaves it wide open for different interpretations over what is or isn't deemed as direct involvement.

Again you point out a big interpretation and consistency issue, the FA don't seem to have thought some of the changes through fully.In egg chasing I like that the ref states clearly what and why decisions are made.

 

[Lost Mackem]

Penalties:
Pickford is going to be ruined by this, he's always off his line/banging the woodwork for pens.

Drop Balls:
I think most of that is brilliant. I hate it when we're on a dangerous attack, the referee gives a drop ball because one of the opposition is diving about and then it has to be booted back to our goalkeeper. Happened loads last season.

Don't agree with the bit about it hitting a ref and getting a drop ball. Players may aswell just blast the ball off the ref; if it goes to your own player happy days, if it doesn't you get a 'drop ball' (a chance to hoof it into the box and create a goalscoring opportunity).

Handballs:
I agree with all of that other than the bit about the goalkeepers, I'd imagine a few GK's will try to fool the ref so that they can handle the ball from back passes.

Goal Kicks:
Agree.

Free Kicks:
I've said it loads: What constitutes as a wall? It's not even a real thing, it's just an idea. In theory, a team could have 5 walls of 2 players while defending a free-kick. Daft rule.
I didn't even know that opposition players couldn't enter the box if a team had a free-kick in their own box.

Quick Free Kicks:
Good idea on paper but awful referees (especially at this level) will ruin this.

Substitutions:
YES. YES. YES. The amount of time wasting last season we had against us was phenomenal. Players took the **** out of referees at the SoL.

Cards For Coaches:
Agree.

The Other Changes:
Agree with all that other than the part about the team that has won the toss can choose which side to attack first. Isn't being able to choose which way to kick first a huge part of home advantage?

 

[Gt Yarmouth Shrimper]

Isn't being able to choose which way to kick first a huge part of home advantage?

Never been able to work it out as to why the home team always seem to want to play 'towards' their own fans in the 2nd half?

 

[southendkid]

The handball stuff is a minefield for officials, TV pundits will be all over it ripping decisions apart.
No drop balls? There have been very few proper ones for years so the change is legislation for the sake of it.
Free kicks and walls will be open to abuse unless refs are determined to uniformally implement the change with consistency.

The drop ball thing actually sounds like a really big change to me, whilst drop balls are never contested they almost always are kicked back to the keeper. It sounds like play will now just resume from where it was stopped instead.

 

[Lost Mackem]

Never been able to work it out as to why the home team always seem to want to play 'towards' their own fans in the 2nd half?

Sunderland don't in most of our matches at the SoL for some reason. But it's just the home team's decision. Or atleast was the home team's decision.

 

[Lost Mackem]

New goal kick rule already being exploited.

Benfica Exploited The New Goal-Kick Rule In Incredible Way Against AC Milan

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

A simple idea, it puts a further, small, incentive on creative, faster play. However a long way from a "game changer" exploitation.

 

[londonblue]

Why aren’t goal kicks taken on the same side of the six-yard box in which the ball goes off as happens with corners? Don’t know why the rule was ever changed, just allows keepers to waste even more time.

As far as I remember, that's because a previous rule change was introduced in a very ham-fisted way. When 'keepers had to take the kick from the side the ball went off it led to time being wasted. That led to a rule change where they could take the kick from either side. This led to more time wasting since they took the kick from the side they were furthest from.

The rule was changed again to make them take the kick from the same side at all times (i.e. once a 'keeper had taken a kick from, say, the left they had to take all kicks from the left).

What I can't work out is why they didn't just say the 'keeper must take the kick from the side they're closest to.

 

[kaymac]

Neither can I, seemed more like changes just for the sake of. Still no sign of any (desperately needed) simplification of the offside law. Technology being installed to pick-up up a toe being 'offside' yet still maintaining the farce of first and second 'phases' which too often have a noticeable influence in a game.

 

[Firestorm]

looks like abuse of the backpass law to me

 

[Stuart W]

Doesn't appear to be a new rule, but I saw something last week which was a great initiative by a referee.
On our hols, we went to see FC Utrecht versus Mostar in the Europa League qualifying round.

Mostar, although very skilful, were under the pump in the last quarter of the game and regularly had players falling like nine-pins, supposedly with cramp, but more likely just to waste time.

On THREE occasions, rather than waving on the physio, the ref waved on the four stretcher bearers, complete with stretcher and hilariously running on at high speed.

The outcome? The first time the player was manhandled onto the stretcher but immediately rolled out of it when they got to the touch line.
On the other two occasions the players made miraculous recoveries by the time the stretcher bearers were ready to cart them off.

Absolutely brilliant idea which I hope to see in League 1 this season!

 

[Lost Mackem]

Doesn't appear to be a new rule, but I saw something last week which was a great initiative by a referee.
On our hols, we went to see FC Utrecht versus Mostar in the Europa League qualifying round.

Mostar, although very skilful, were under the pump in the last quarter of the game and regularly had players falling like nine-pins, supposedly with cramp, but more likely just to waste time.

On THREE occasions, rather than waving on the physio, the ref waved on the four stretcher bearers, complete with stretcher and hilariously running on at high speed.

The outcome? The first time the player was manhandled onto the stretcher but immediately rolled out of it when they got to the touch line.
On the other two occasions the players made miraculous recoveries by the time the stretcher bearers were ready to cart them off.

Absolutely brilliant idea which I hope to see in League 1 this season!

I'm a big advocate for allowing play to carry on when physios are on the pitch (depending on the level of injury ofcourse). If a player has cramp and can't leave the pitch quickly, get the physio on to give him treatment and just carry on playing around them. It works well in the Australian league and would 100% put an end to this type of time wasting.