LAW
III – THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS’
Players
A
game is played by two teams, each consisting of no more than five
players, one of whom is the goalkeeper.
Substitution
Procedure
Substitutes
may be used in any game played under the rules of an official
competition at FIFA, confederation or national association level.
The
maximum number of substitutes permitted is seven.
The
number of substitutions made during a game is unlimited.
A player who has been replaced may return to the playing court as
a substitute for another player.
A
substitution is one which is made when the ball is in or out of play and
for which the following conditions are observed:
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the
player leaving the playing court must do so at his own
substitution |
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zone. |
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the
player entering the playing court must also do so at his own |
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substitution zone but not until the player leaving the playing
court has passed completely over the touchline. |
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a
substitute is subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the
referees |
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whether called upon to play or not. |
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the
substitution is completed when the substitute enters the playing |
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court, from which moment he becomes a player and the player whom
he is replacing ceases to be a player. |
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A
goalkeeper may change places with any other player.
Infringements
/ Sanctions
If,
while a substitution, is being made, a substitute enters the
playing court before the player being replaced has completely
left:
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play
is stopped |
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the
player being replaced is instructed to leave the playing court |
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the
player being replaced is instructed to leave the playing court |
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the
substitute is cautioned and shown the yellow card |
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play
is restarted by an indirect free kick to be taken by the opposing |
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team from the place where the ball was situated when the game was
stopped. However, if the ball was inside the penalty area, the
indirect free kick is taken from the penalty area line, at the
place nearest to the position of the ball when play was stopped. |
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If,
while a substitution, is being made,, a substitute enters the
playing court or a player being replaced
leaves it from a place other than the substitution zone:
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play
is stopped |
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the
offending player is cautioned and shown the yellow card |
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play
is restarted by an indirect free kick to be taken by the opposing |
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team from the place where the ball was situated when the game was
stopped. However, if the ball was inside the penalty area, the
indirect free kick is taken from the penalty area line, at the
place nearest to the position of the ball when play was stopped. |
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Decisions
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Decision
1 |
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At
the start of a game, each team must have a minimum of five
players. |
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Decision
2 |
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If,
in the event of players being sent off, fewer than three players
(including the goalkeeper) are left in either of the teams, the
game must be abandoned. |
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