Laws of Football: The Beautiful An In-Depth Analysis of Law 1, 2,

Game and 3
 The laws of football, or the Laws of the Game,
originated in 1863 when representatives from football
clubs and schools in England established standardized
rules at a meeting in London.

Formation of This led to the formation of the Football Association

Football’s (FA). Over time, these rules were refined, and the
International Football Association Board (IFAB) was
established in 1886 to oversee updates.

Laws: IFAB, consisting of representatives from the British

Football Associations and FIFA, meets annually to
discuss and implement changes, ensuring a consistent
and fair framework for the sport globally.
World Football Rules
• FIFA (Fédération Internationale de
Football Association) (the
governing body of world football)
updates the rules and regulations
each season. These laws are
documented in FIFA’s Laws of the
Game.

• These laws have evolved from the

original laws of the game created
in 1863 by the English Football
Association.
LAW 01 – Field of
Play • A football match can take place on either natural,
artificial, or hybrid grass/turf, which is a
combination of natural and artificial grass.
However, the field should be rectangular in
shape and green in color.

• The rectangular field comprises two long

boundary lines called touchlines and two short
lines called goal lines. The pitch is then split into
two halves by a midpoint called the halfway or
half line.

Touchline (Length of field): 90 – 120m

Goal line (Width of Field): 45 – 90m

• The painted line is a maximum of 12cm, and all

lines must be of the same width.
LAW 02 – The Ball
• The ball is spherical in shape and must be
made of leather.

• The ball must weigh between 410g –

450g at the start of the match and have a
circumference of 68cm – 70cm.

• The ball pressure must be equal to 0.6 –

1.1 atmospheres at sea level.

• The match is stopped if the ball bursts

and is restarted by a drop ball (with a
new ball) between two opposing players.
LAW 03 – Number of
Players
• A football match is played with two opposing teams
comprising 11 players, one being the goalkeeper.

If either team has less than 7 players, the game cannot start or
continue.

• Teams can use up to 3 substitutes throughout the game,

however, some international friendly fixtures may allow up
to 6 substitutes.

Once substituted, a player cannot return to the pitch.

 In conclusion, Football Laws 1, 2, and 3 are integral to shaping
the game's structure and fairness.

Law 1 defines the field and equipment standards, Law 2

outlines ball specifications, and Law 3 addresses the number
and roles of players.

Conclusion Adherence to these foundational laws is crucial for players,

officials, and fans. The continuous evolution overseen by
IFAB reflects a commitment to adapting the game while
preserving its core principles.

These laws not only govern the physical aspects but also
contribute to the spirit of fair play and sportsmanship that
defines football globally.