According to the latest 11-a-side football rules book published by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the regulations consist of 17 laws. These rules detail all aspects related to organizing and officiating 11-a-side football matches worldwide.
In this article, JiliAce will introduce some of these football rules to help readers better understand them.
Latest 11-A-Side Football Rules

Law 1: The Field of Play
The rules governing the field of play include 13 provisions:
- Surface of the Field
The playing surface must be either natural grass or artificial turf that meets the standards outlined in the competition regulations. For international matches, whether involving national teams or clubs, artificial turf must meet international standards or FIFA specifications.Surface of the Field - Markings and Boundaries
The field must be rectangular and marked with boundary lines, including sidelines (touchlines), goal lines, a halfway line, and the center circle. - Dimensions
The length of the field must range from 90 to 120 meters, and the width between 45 and 90 meters. Boundary lines must not exceed a width of 12 centimeters. - International Match Dimensions
For international matches, the field dimensions are slightly adjusted: the length must be between 100 and 110 meters, and the width must be between 64 and 75 meters. - Goal Area
Two lines, each 5.5 meters long, are drawn perpendicular to the goal line, 5.5 meters from the inside edges of each goalpost. This defined area is called the goal area. - Penalty Area
The penalty area is marked by two lines, each 16.5 meters long, drawn perpendicular to the goal line. A penalty spot, 11 meters from the center of the goal line, marks the location for penalty kicks. - Corner Flags
Flags must be placed at each corner of the field. - Corner Arc
A quarter-circle with a radius of 1 meter must be marked at each corner flag to define the corner kick area. - Goalposts
Goals must be positioned at the center of each goal line. The crossbar’s height is 2.44 meters, and the distance between the posts is 7.32 meters.
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Law 2: The Ball
The ball used in international matches must adhere to specific dimensions outlined in the rules for 11-a-side football:
- Circumference: 68–70 centimeters
- Weight: 410–450 grams
- Material: Made of synthetic rubber or similar materials.
If the ball becomes defective during a match, the referee will decide whether to replace it.

Law 3: Number of Players
- The official number of players on the field is 11 per team.
- Each team is allowed 3 substitutions during a match.
Law 4: Player Equipment
The rules specify the basic equipment each player must wear during a match:
- A jersey with sleeves
- Shorts
- Socks
- Shin guards
- Football boots
The colors of the teams’ uniforms must be distinct to differentiate them from each other and from the referee team. Players violating these uniform regulations will be penalized as outlined in Clause 5.
Law 5: The Referee

The rules for 11-a-side football specify the rights and duties of the main referee, as well as their authority to make decisions during a match and control its proceedings.
- The referee decides the playability of the field. In cases of adverse weather conditions that directly affect the game, the referee determines whether the match should continue or be temporarily suspended.
- Similarly, for issues such as unsuitable pitch conditions, inclement weather, or external factors like crowd disturbances, the referee has the final say on whether the game should proceed or pause.
Law 6: Assistant Referees
For every 11-a-side football match, there are two assistant referees. Their responsibilities include:
- Determining whether the ball has crossed the boundary lines.
- Deciding which team is awarded a corner kick, throw-in, or goal kick.
- Identifying offside offenses committed by players.
- Assisting in penalty kick decisions, monitoring the position of the goalkeeper and the ball.
- Supporting substitutions and other administrative tasks during the match.
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Law 7: Match Duration
- Each match consists of two halves of 45 minutes each.
- The interval between halves is governed by the competition rules but must be at most 15 minutes.
- Stoppage time is added to each half for time lost due to injuries, substitutions, or other delays. Additional time may also be added for penalty kicks awarded at the end of a half.
Law 8: Starting and Restarting Play

The rules provide detailed guidance for starting and restarting a match:
- Kick-off
Kick-offs are taken to:- Begin the match.
- Start the second half.
- Begin each period of extra time (if applicable).
- Resume play after a goal is scored.
- The player taking the kick-off must only touch the ball again after another player has made contact.
- Dropped Ball
A dropped ball is used to restart play after the referee temporarily stops the match.- The ball is dropped at the location where it was last in play, except within the goal area.
- Players must wait for the ball to touch the ground before making contact.
- If the ball crosses the boundary lines without touching any players after being dropped, the referee will drop it again.
- Direct Goals from Dropped Ball
- If a player scores directly into the opponent’s goal from a dropped ball, the opposing team is awarded a goal kick.
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