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Law 1 - The Field of Play |
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Field
Surface
Matches may be played on natural or artificial surfaces,
according to the rules of the competition.
Dimensions
The field of play must be rectangular. The length of
the touch line must be greater than the length of the goal
line.
Length: minimum 90m (100yds) maximum 120m (130yds)
Width: minimum 45m (50yds) maximum 90m (100yds)
International Matches
Length: minimum 100m (110yds) maximum 110m (120yds)
Width: minimum 64m (70yds) maximum 75m (80yds)
Field Markings
The field of play is marked with lines. These lines belong
to the areas of which they are boundaries.
The two longer boundary lines are called touch lines. The
two shorter lines are called goal lines.
All lines are not more than 12cm (5ins) wide.
The field of play is divided into two halves by a halfway
line.
The centre mark is indicated at the midpoint of the halfway
line. A circle with a radius of 9.15m (10yds) is marked
around it.
The Goal Area
A goal area is defined at each end of the field as follows:
Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal lines, 5.5m
(6yds) from the inside of the goalpost. These lines extend
into the field of play for a distance of 5.5m (6yds) and are
joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The area
bounded by these lines and the goal line is the goal area.
The Penalty Area
A penalty area is defined at each end of the field as
follows:
Two lines are drawn at right angles to the goal line, 16.5m
(18yds) from the inside of each goalpost. These lines extend
into the field of play for a distance of 16.5m (18yds) and
are joined by a line drawn parallel with the goal line. The
area bounded by these lines and the goal line is the penalty
area.
Within each penalty area a penalty mark is made 11m (12yds)
from the midpoint between the goalposts and equidistant to
them. An arc of a circle with a radius of 9.15m (10yds) is
drawn outside the penalty area from each penalty mark.
Flagposts
A flagpost, not less than 1.5m (5ft) high, with a
non-pointed top and a flag is placed at each corner.
Flagposts may also be placed at each end of the halfway
line, not less than 1m (1yd) outside the touch line.
The Corner Arc
A quarter circle with a radius of 1m (1yd) from each corner
flagpost is drawn inside the field of play.
Goals
Goals must be placed on the
centre of each goal line.
They consist of two upright posts equidistant from the
corner flagposts and joined at the top by a horizontal
crossbar.
The distance between the posts is 7.32m (8yds) and the
distance from the lower edge of the crossbar to the ground
is 2.44m (8ft).
Both goalposts and the crossbar have the same width and
depth which do not exceed 12cm (5ins). The goal lines are
the same width as that of the goalposts and the crossbar.
Nets may be attached to the goals and the ground behind the
goal, provided that they are properly supported and do not
interfere with the goalkeeper.
The goalposts and crossbars must be white.
Safety
Goals must be anchored
securely to the ground. Portable goals may only be used if
they satisfy this requirement.
Decisions of the International
F.A. Board
Decision 1
If the crossbar becomes displaced or broken, play is stopped
until it has been repaired or replaced in position. If a
repair is not possible, the match is abandoned. The use of
a rope to replace the crossbar is not permitted. If the
crossbar can be repaired, the match is restarted with a
dropped ball at the place where the ball was located when
play was stopped.
Decision 2
Goalposts and crossbars must be made of wood, metal
or other approved material. Their shape may be square,
rectangular, round or elliptical and they must not be
dangerous to players.
Decision 3
No kind of commercial
advertising, whether real or virtual, is permitted on the
field of play and the field equipment (including the goal
nets and the areas they enclose) from the time the teams
enter the field of play until they have left it at half time
and from the time the teams re-enter the field of play until
the end of the match. In particular, no advertising
material of any kind may be displayed on goals, nets,
flagposts or their flags. No extraneous equipment (cameras,
microphones, etc.) may be attached to these items.
Decision 4
There shall be no advertising of any kind within the
technical area or within one metre from the touch line 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.
Decision 5
The reproduction, whether real or virtual, of representative
logos or emblems of FIFA, confederations, national
associations, leagues, clubs or other bodies, is forbidden
on the field of play and the field equipment (including the
goal nets and the areas they enclose) during playing time,
as described in Decision 3.
Decision 6
A mark may be made off the field of play, 9.15 metres (10
yds) from the corner arc and at right angles to the goal
line, to ensure that this distance is observed when a corner
kick is being taken.
Decision 7
Where artificial surfaces are
used in either competition matches between representative
teams of national associations affiliated to FIFA or
international club competition matches, the surface must
meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Concept for
Artificial Turf or the International Artificial Turf
Standard, unless special dispensation is given by FIFA.
Decision 8
Where a technical area exists it
must meet the requirements approved by the International F.A.
Board, which are contained in this publication. |
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