2013-14 Amendments
U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Program
2013-14 Amendments to the Laws of the Game
July 2013
IFAB
o The 127th Annual General Meeting of the
International Football Association Board
(IFAB) took place on March 2, 2013
o No changes to the Laws of the Game
o Changes made to the Interpretation of the
Laws of the Game and Guidelines for
Referees
o New text (in bold)
Law 11
“Interfering with an opponent” means preventing an opponent
from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing
the opponent’s line of vision or challenging an opponent for
the ball
Law 11
“Gaining an advantage by being in that position” means playing
a ball
I) that rebounds or is deflected to him off the goal post,
crossbar or an opponent having been in an offside
position
II) that rebounds, is deflected or is played to him from a
deliberate save by an opponent having been in an offside
position
A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an
opponent, who deliberately plays the ball (except from a
deliberate save), is not considered to have gained an
advantage
IFAB Explanation
o The current wording creates many
discussions as it gives too much room for
interpretation and is not precise enough
o The new text is more in line with actual game
situations and will eliminate the confusion
regarding what is meant by rebound,
deflection and when the ball has been
deliberately saved
Advice to Referees
o The act of challenging an opponent for the
ball while in an offside position is now clearly
incorporated into interfering with an opponent
o The reworking of the definition of gaining an
advantage does not call for any change in the
way referees should have been implementing
this concept
Implementation
o The changes go into effect as of July 1, 2013
o Confederations or member associations
whose current season has not ended by this
date may delay the introduction of the
adopted alterations to the Laws of the Game
in their competitions until the beginning of
their next season
Resource Center
o A complete version of the 2013-14
Amendments to the Laws of the Game can be
downloaded in the Downloads section of the
Resource Center at ussoccer.com
o In addition, FIFA has provided an interactive
DVD that can also be downloaded in the
Downloads section of the Resource Center at
ussoccer.com