New Rules from FIFA meeting in
Zurich on March 3, 1997
Law 4 -Player's Equipment
Now includes the statement: "If thermal shorts are worn
they must be of the same color as the shorts."
Law 5 -The Referee
"Any player bleeding from a wound must leave the field
for treatment."
Law 8 -The Start and Restart of Play
"The team which wins the toss shall decide which goal it
will attack in the first half of the match. The other team
shall take the kick-off."
"A goal may be scored directly from the kick-off."
"The ball is in play when it is kicked and moves
forward."
Law 12 -Fouls and Misconduct
"An indirect free-kick will be awarded if the goalkeeper
handles the ball after receiving it from a throw-in from his
own team."
"Unsporting behaviour" replaces "ungentlemanly conduct"
as a cautionable offense.
"Failing to respect the required distance at a restart of
play" becomes a cautionable offense.
"Delaying the restart of play" becomes a cautionable
offense.
IFAB decisions 13 and 14, which relate to the prevention
of obvious goal scoring opportunities now become Law.
"Using offensive, insulting, or abusive language"
replaces "foul or abusive language".
Binding Instruction
The referee is to consider that the goalkeeper is wasting
time and therefore has to award an indirect free-kick
against him, if he holds the ball for longer than 5-6
seconds.
Law 14 -The Penalty Kick
The new text states "The goalkeeper remains on his own
goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until
the ball has been kicked." The phrase, "without moving his
feet" has been deleted.
Players who enter the penalty area before the ball has
been kicked need not now be cautioned.
Law 16 -The Goal Kick
"A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick."
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