Decision-making principles

Additional guidance

In this section the decisions behind when a challenge is deemed as a foul or fair is explained, also including an official glossary for cards given.

Decision-making principles

-Contact is an acceptable part of football

-Preference not to penalise minimal contact

-Higher threshold for penalising challenges 

-Emphasis on positive on-field decision-making

-Emphasis on protecting player safety

Higher threshold: decision making considerations

-Degree of contact
-Consequence of contact
-Actions of defender
-Motivation of attacker

Glossary of terms for challenges

-'Careless' challenge = Foul
-'Reckless' challenge = Yellow card
-'Dangerous' challenge = Red card

Contents:

VAR 
VAR Improvement Plan
Decision-making process
What VAR cannot do
Threshold for VAR intervention
Attacking Possession Phase
Semi-Automated Offside Technology

Participant Behaviour Charter 
Context for Change
Core Principles 
Regulatory

Updates for Season 2024/25
Effective Playing Time – Allowance for time lost
Effective Playing Time – Calculation of Additional Time 
Effective Playing Time – Delaying the restart
Effective Playing Time – Managing momentum
Handball – Interpretation 
Holding 
Blocking 
Denying a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity 
Penalty kicks 
IFAB Trial

Additional Guidance 
Offside – Delaying the flag
Offside – Deliberate play
Offside – Interference 
Handball – Definition of the hand/arm
Handball – Accidental handball before a goal is scored
Serious foul play 
Violent conduct 
High foot challenges
Challenges on Goalkeepers

Matchday Protocols 
Multiball protocol 
Substitutes warm up protocol
Concussion substitutions 
Pre-match warm up protocols
Post-match warm down protocols