New laws for 2019/20 season
I can't wait to hear the complaints about crap refereeing from stands all around the country!
Law 8 – The Start and Restart of Play: The Dropped Ball
The current dropped ball procedure is unsatisfactory as it often leads to confrontation or a 'manufactured' restart which is 'exploited' unfairly, e.g. kicking the ball out for a throw-in deep in the opponents'half.
The new procedure is for the dropped ball to be 'uncontested' – the ball will be dropped for only one player and all other players must remain at least 4m (4.5 yds) away.
Play will then continue 'as normal', i.e. the ball is not given back to the opponents.
If play was stopped when the ball or the last touch of the ball was in the penalty area, the ball will be dropped for the defending team goalkeeper.
In all other cases, the ball will be dropped for one player of the team that last touched the ball at the place where it was last touched.
Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct: Handling the Ball
Handball is probably the most 'unclear ' area of the Laws of the Game and this lack of clarity causes much confusion, inconsistency and controversy.
The Laws relating to 'fouls' and 'offside' were improved by moving the focus from 'intent' (mental) to 'outcome' (physical) and a similar change has been applied to 'non-deliberate' handball situations.
Therefore, whilst 'deliberate' handball remains an offence, the Law now provides greater clarity as to whether an offence has occurred when the ball 'accidentally' touches the hand/arm.
Consequently, a player will be penalised when the ball touches their hand/arm if:
- their hand/arm is above shoulder height (except when deliberately playing the ball) as a player is 'taking a risk' by having their hand/arm in that usually 'unnatural' position
- the player 's body has been made unnaturally bigger, and has thus unfairly created a larger barrier, by their hand/arm being away from their body
- a goal is scored directly from their hand/arm (even if accidental)
- a player gains possession/control of the ball from their hand/arm (even if accidental) and then scores a goal or creates a goal-scoring opportunity
- However, except in the situations outlined above, a player will not usually be penalised when the ball touches their hand/arm if:
- the ball came off the player's own body, or the body of another player (of either team) who was close by, as it is almost impossible to avoid contact with the ball
- a player falls down and their hand/arm is between their body and ground for support
Other proposed Law changes:
- If a team's penalty taker is injured and has treatment, he/she can stay on the field to take the penalty kick (Law 5)
- The team that wins the toss can choose to take the kick-off (Law 8)
- If a YC/RC offence occurs but the non-offending team takes a quick free kick which creates a goal-scoring opportunity, the referee can delay showing the YC/RC until the next stoppage (Law 12)
- If the defending team forms a 'wall' of three or more players, attacking team players must be at least 1m away from the 'wall' – indirect free kick if they encroach (Law 13)
- The goalkeeper must be on (not in front or behind) the goal line at a penalty kick but only needs to have one foot on the goal line (or in line with it if in the air) when the kick is taken (Law 14)
- Additional amendments and clarifications Other clarifications to the Laws of the Game were approved, including:
- Multi-coloured/patterned undershirts are permitted if the same as the main shirt sleeve (Law 4)
- Explanation of the difference between 'cooling breaks' and 'drinks breaks' (Law 7)
- If the goalkeeper attempts to 'clear' the ball from a throw-in or deliberate pass from a teammate and the 'clearance' is unsuccessful, the goalkeeper may handle the ball (Law 12)
- A YC for an 'illegal' goal celebration (e.g. removing the shirt, climbing on the fence) remains even if the goal is disallowed (Law 12)
