FIF~

For the ceme. For the World.

TO THE MEMBERS OF FIFA

Circular no. 1234

Zurich, 15 July 2010

SGlftr/jya

Amendments to the Futsal Laws of the Game - 2010

Dear Sir or Madam,

In collaboration with the Sub-Committee of the International Football Association Board and the FIFA

Refereeing Department, the FIFA Futsal Sub-Committee has undertaken a comprehensive revision of

the 2010 Futsal Laws of the Game and harmonised the wording In all four FIFA languages.

We are pleased to attache a summary of the approved amendments to the Laws of the Game and the

Interpretation of the Futsal Laws of the Game and guidelines for referees.

The new Futsal Laws of the Game will come into fo rce immediately. They are to be applied In thei r

entirety by all of the member associations.

Yours faithfully,

FEDERATIO I ffERNATIONALE

DE FO L AS ATION

- FIFA ExecutiveCommittee

- Confederations

- FIFA Futsal and Beach SoccerCommittee

- FIFA Referees Committee

Ene\.

Federation Internationale de Football Association

FIFA·Strasse 20 P.O. Box 8044 Zurich Switzerland Tel.: +41-(0)43-222 7777 Fax: +41-(0)43-222 7878 wvvw.FIFA.com

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AMENDMENTS TO THE FUTSALLAWS OF THE GAME - 2010

LAW 1 - THE PITCH

The penalty area

Two imaginary lines of 6 m in length are drawn from the outside of each goalpost and at right angles

to the goal line; at the end of these lines a quarter circle is drawn in the direction of the nearest touch

line, each with a radius of 6 m from the outside of the goalpost. The upper part of each quarter circle

is joined by a line 3.16 m in length running parallel to the goal line between the goalposts. The area

bounded by these lines and the goal line is the penalty area.

With in each penalty area, a penalty mark is made 6 m from the midpoint between the goalposts and

equidistant to them .

LAW 2 - THE BALL

Replacement of a defective ball

If the ball bursts or becomes defective during the course of a match, the match is stopped:

• the match is restarted by retaking the kick if the ball bursts or becomes defective while a direct

free kick without a wall, a kick from the second penalty mark or a kick from the penalty mark is

being taken and does not touch the goalposts, the crossbar or a player and no infringement is

committed.

LAW 3 - THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS

Players

A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than three players.

Other matches

In national" A" team matches, up to a maximum of ten substitutes may be used.

In all other matches, a greater number of substitutes may be used, provided that:

• the teams concerned reach agreement on a maximum number

• the referees are informed before the match

If the referees are not informed, or if no agreement is reached before the match, no more than ten

substitutes are allowed.

LAW 4 - THE PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT

Infringements and sanctions

• the player, if he has not been substituted, is only allowed to re-enter the pitch when the ball is

out of play or under the supervision of the third referee when the ball is in play

LAW 5 - THE REFEREES

Reserve assistant referee

In tournaments or competitions where a reserve assistant referee is appointed, his role and duties

must be in accordance with the guidelines contai ned in this publication .

For the Game. For the World.

LAW 6 - THE ASSISTANT REFEREES

The authority of the assistant referees

Two assistant referees may be appointed (a third referee and a timekeeper) who must perform their

duties in accordance with the Futsal Laws of the Game. They are positioned off the pitch, level with

the halfway line and on the same side as the substitution zones. The timekeeper remains seated at the

timekeeper's table, while the third referee may perform his duties either seated or standing up.

Powers and duties

The third referee:

• hands a document to the officials of each team before the start of each period of play with

which they can request time-outs and collects it at the end of each period if none have been

requested

• hands a document to the officia ls of each team which indicates when a substitute can enter the

pitch to replace a player who has been sent off

• under the referees' supervision, monitors the entry of a player who has left the pitch to correct

his equipment

• under the referees' supervision, monitors the entry of a player who has left the pitch due to an

injury of any kind

The timekeeper:

• records the goals, accumulated fouls and periods of play on the public scoreboard, if available

• indicates a team's request for a time-out with a wh istle or acoustic signal distinct from the one

used by the referees, after informing the th ird referee

• performs the specific duties of the third referee in the event of the latter's absence

• provides any other information relevant to the game

LAW 7 - THE DURATION OF THE MATCH

Ending the periods of play

The timekeeper indicates the end of each period with the acoustic signal or wh istle. After hearing the

timekeeper's whistle or acoustic signal, one of the referees announces the end of the period or match

with his whistle, bearing in mind the following:

• if a kick from the second penalty mark or direct free kick, beginn ing with the sixth accumulated

foul, must be taken or retaken, the period in question is extended until the kick has been taken

• if a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken, the period in question is extended until the kick has

been taken

If the ball has been kicked towards one of the goals, the referees must wait for the kick to end before

the timekeeper may sound the whistle or acoustic signal. The period ends when

• the ball goes directly into the goal and a goal is scored

• the ball leaves the boundaries of the pitch

• the ball touches the goalkeeper, the goalposts, crossbar or ground, crosses the goal line and a

goal is scored

• the ball touches any player other than the goalkeeper after it has been kicked at the opposing

goal and no infringement has been committed that requires a direct free kick or a penalty kick

to be retaken or, during the trajectory of the ball, one of the teams does not commit an

infringement that is sanctioned with a direct free kick, beginning with the sixth accumulated

foul, or a penalty kick

• the defend ing goalkeeper stops the ball or it rebounds from the goalposts or crossbar and does

not cross the goal line

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LAW 10 - THE METHOD OF SCORING

Goal scored

If, after a goal is scored, the referees realise, before play restarts, that the team that scored the goal is

playing with an extra player or has carried out a substitution incorrectly, they must disallow the goal

and restart play with an indirect free kick to be taken by the opponents of the offending player from

any point inside the penalty area. If the kick-off has already been taken, they take the measures

against the offending player provided for in Law 3, but the goal is allowed. The referees report the

fact to the appropriate authorities. If the goal was scored by the other team, they must allow it.

LAW 11 - OFFSIDE

There is no offs ide in futsal.

LAW 12 - FOULSAND MISCONDUCT

Fouls penalised with a direct free kick

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven

offences in a manner considered by the referees to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

• kicks or attempts to kick an opponent

• trips an opponent

• jumps at an opponent

• charges an opponent

• strikes or attempts to strike an opponent

• pushes an opponent

• tackles an opponent

A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following three

offences:

• holds an opponent

• spits at an opponent

• handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)

Fouls penalised with an indirect free kick

An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper commits any of the following

four offences:

• controls the ball with his hands or feet in his own half of the pitch for more than four seconds

• touches the ball again with his hands in his own half of the pitch after it has been deliberately

kicked to him by a team-mate without an opponent playing or touch ing it

• touches the ball with his hands inside his own penalty area after it has been deliberately kicked

to him by a team-mate

• touches the ball with his hands inside his own penalty area after he has received it directly from

a ball inbound by a team-mate

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An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if, in the opinion of the referees, a player:

• plays in a dangerous manner in the presence of an opponent

• impedes the progress of an opponent

• prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands

• commits against a team-mate one of the nine offences penalised with a direct free kick if they

are committed against an opponent

• commits any other infringement not previously mentioned in Law 12 or in any other Law, for

which play is stopped to caution or dismissa player

Disciplinary sanctions

Only a player or substitute may be shown the red or yellow card. The relevant card is shown publicly

and only on the pitch once the match has started. In other cases, the referees verbally inform the

players and team officials of the disciplinary sanction taken.

The referees have the authority to take disciplinary sanctions from the moment they enter the

premises where the pitch is located before the start of the match until they leave them.

Cautionable offences

A player is cautioned if he commits any of the following seven offences:

• unsporting behaviour

• dissent by word or action

• persistent infringement of the Futsal Laws of the Game

• delaying the restart of play

• failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or ball

inbound (defending players)

• entering or re-entering the pitch without the referees' permission or infringement of the

substitution procedure

• deliberately leaving the pitch without the referees' permission

LAW 13 - FREE KICKS

Infringements and sanctions

If, when a free kick is taken, an opponent is closer to the ball than the required distance:

• the kick is retaken and the offending player is cautioned, unless the advantage can be applied or

another infringement is committed that is punishable by a penalty kick. If the infringement is

punishable by a free kick, the referees decide whether to punish the original infringement or the

one committed subsequently. If the second infringement is punishable by a penalty kick or direct

free kick, an accumulated foul is recorded against the offending team

Beginning with the sixth accumulated foul, if a free kick is taken by a team-mate of the player who

had been identified previously:

• the referees stop play, caution him for unsporting behaviour and restart the match with an

indirect free kick to the defending team to be taken from where he kicked the ball

Beginning with the sixth accumulated foul, if, after the direct free kick has been taken:

- the ball bursts or becomes defective while in play and has not previously touched the goalposts, the

crossbar or another player:

• the kick is retaken

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LAW 14 - THE PENALTY KICK

Infringements and sanctions

If, while a penalty kick is being taken, the ball is kicked by a team-mate of the player who had been

previously identified.

• the referees stop play, caution him for unsporting behaviour and order the match to be

restarted with an indirect free kick to the defending team, to be taken from the penalty mark

(see Law 13 - Position of free kick)

If, after the penalty kick has been taken:

- the ball bursts or becomes defective when in play and has not previously touched the goalposts, the

crossbar or a player:

• the kick is retaken

LAW 16 - THE GOAL CLEARANCE

Infringements and sanctions

If the ball is in play and the goalkeeper touches the ball again (except with his hands) before it has

touched an opponent (except if it has accidentally touched another player in his team):

• an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team, to be taken from the place where the

infringement occurred (see Law 13 - Position of free kick)

PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE THE WINNER OF A MATCH OR HOME-AND-AWAY

Kicks from the penalty mark

Procedure

• If, at the end of the match or extra time and before the kicks start to be taken from the penalty

mark, one team has a greater number of players, including substitutes, than Its opponents, it

must reduce its numbers to equate with that of its opponents and the team captain must inform

the referee of the name and number of each player excluded

• If a team must reduce its numbers to equate with that of its opponents, it may exclude the

goalkeepers as players eligible to take the penalty kicks

• A goalkeeper excluded from taking penalty kicks in order to equate the number of players of his

team with that of its opponents, i.e. who is located in his techn ical area, may replace his team's

goalkeeper at any time

• Before the start of the kicks from the penalty mark, the referee must ensure that an equal

number of players from each team eligible to take the penalty kicks remains in the other half of

the pitch

INTERPRETATION OF THE FUTSALLAWS OF THE GAME AND GUIDELINES FOR REFEREES

LAW 1 - THE PITCH

Advertising on the pitch

If the competition rules do not prohibit it, advertising on the f loor of the pitch is permitted, provided

that it does not confuse the players or referees and it enables the bounda ry lines stipulated in the

Futsal Laws of the Game to be seen.

Advertising on the goal nets

If the competition rules do not prohibit it, advertising on the goal nets is permitted, provided that it

does not confuse the players or referees

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Advertising in the technical areas

If the competition rules do not prohibit it, advertising on the floor of the technical areas is permitted,

provided that it does not confuse the occupants of said areas, the third referee or the referees.

LAW 3 - THE NUMBER OF PLAYERS

Players sent off

• If a player who commits an infringement is sent off for a second caution or directly after the

advantage has been applied and his team concedes a goal after the application of the

advantage before he is sent off, the number of players in his team is not reduced, as the

infringement was committed before the goal was scored

• if , during the interva l or before the start of one of the periods of extra time, a player commits a

sending-off offence, his team starts the next half or period of extra time with one player fewer

LAW 4 - THE PLAYERS' EQUIPMENT

Jewellery

Referees and assistant referees are also prohibited from wearing jewellery (except for the referee, who

is permitted to wear a watch or similar device to time the match if the timekeeper is absent),

LAW 5 - THE REFEREES

Guidelines for Referees

Four-second count when the ball is in play

Each time that a team's goalkeeper is in possession of the ball while it is in play and in his own half of

the pitch, one of the referees must visibly perform the four-second count.

Restart of play

The referees especially ensure that restarts of play are carried out quickly and do not allow play not to

be restarted immediately for tactical reasons after a temporary stoppage (ball inbound, goal clearance,

corner kick or free kick). In these cases, the fou r-second count starts and it is not necessary to use the

whistle In cases where the restart does not allow the four-second count (kick-off or penalty kick), the

player or playerswho delay it are cautioned.

LAW 12 - FOULS AND MISCONDUCT

Playing in a dangerous manner

Playing in a dangerous manner is defined as any action that, wh ile trying to play the ball, threatens

injury to an opposing player or himself. It is committed with an opponent nearby and prevents the

opponent from playing the ball for fear of injuring himself or the other player.

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For the Came. For the World.

LAW 14 - THE PENALTY KICK

Procedure

• Feinting in the run-up to take a penalty kick to confuse opponents is permitted as part of

football. However, feinting to kick the ball once the player has completed his run-up is considered an

infringement of Law 14 and an act of unsporting behaviour for which the player must be cautioned

PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE THE WINNER OF A MATCH OR HOME-AND-AWAY

Kicks from the penalty mark

Procedure

• During the taking of the penalty kicks, the referees do not allow cameras or other media on the

pitch

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