Law-7 The duaration of the match

The match lasts two equal periods of 45 minutes, unless otherwise mutually agreed between the referee and the two teams. Any agreement to alter the duration of the periods of play (e.g. to reduce each half to 40 minutes because of insufficient light) must be made before the start of play and must comply with competition rules.

Half-time interval

Players are entitled to an interval at half-time.
The half-time interval must not exceed 15 minutes.
Competition rules must state the duration of the half-time interval.
The duration of the half-time interval may be altered only with the consent of the referee

Allowance for time lost

Allowance is made in either period for all time lost through:

• substitutions
• assessment of injury to players
• removal of injured players from the field of play for treatment
• wasting time
• any other cause

The allowance for time lost is at the discretion of the referee.

Penalty kick

If a penalty kick has to be taken or retaken, the duration of either half is extended until the penalty kick is completed.

Law-6-The assistant referee

Duties

Two assistant referees may be appointed whose duties, subject to the decision of the referee, are to indicate:

• when the whole of the ball leaves the field of play
• which team is entitled to a corner kick, goal kick or throw-in
• when a player may be penalised for being in an offside position
• when a substitution is requested
• when misconduct or any other incident occurs out of the view of the referee
• when offences have been committed whenever the assistant referees have a better view than the referee (this includes, in certain circumstances, offences committed in the penalty area)
• whether, at penalty kicks, the goalkeeper moves off the goal line before the ball is kicked and if the ball crosses the line

Law-5 The referee

The authority of the referee

Each match is controlled by a referee who has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game in connection with the match to which he has been appointed.

Powers and duties

The Referee:

• enforces the Laws of the Game
• controls the match in cooperation with the assistant referees and, where applicable, with the fourth official
• ensures that any ball used meets the requirements of Law 2
• ensures that the players' equipment meets the requirements of Law 4
• acts as timekeeper and keeps a record of the match
• stops, suspends or abandons the match, at his discretion, for any infringements of the Laws
• stops, suspends or abandons the match because of outside interference of any kind 
• stops the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured and ensures that he is removed from the field of play. An injured player may only return to the field of play after the match has restarted
• allows play to continue until the ball is out of play if a player is, in his opinion, only slightly injured
• ensures that any player bleeding from a wound leaves the field of play. The player may only return on receiving a signal from the referee, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped
• allows play to continue when the team against which an offence has been committed will benefit from such an advantage and penalises the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not ensue at that time
• punishes the more serious offence when a player commits more than one offence at the same time
• takes disciplinary action against players guilty of cautionable and sending-off offences. He is not obliged to take this action immediately but must do so when the ball next goes out of play
• takes action against team officials who fail to conduct themselves in a responsible manner and may, at his discretion, expel them from the field of play and its immediate surrounds
• acts on the advice of the assistant referees regarding incidents that he has not seen
• ensures that no unauthorised persons enter the field of play
• indicates the restart of the match after it has been stopped
• provides the appropriate authorities with a match report, which includes information on any disciplinary action taken against players and/or team officials and any other incidents that occurred before, during or after the match

Law 4 - the players' equipments

A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery).

he basic compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items:

• a jersey or shirt with sleeves - if undergarments are worn, the colour of the sleeve must be the same main colour as the sleeve of the jersey or shirt
• shorts - if undershorts or tights are worn, they must be of the same main colour as the shorts
• stockings- if tape or similar material is applied externally it must be the same colour as that part of the stocking it is applied to
• shinguards
• footwear

Law 3 - the number of players

Infringements and sanctions

If a substitute or substituted player enters the field of play without the referee's permission:

• the referee stops play (although not immediately if the substitute or substituted player does not interfere with play)
• the referee cautions him for unsporting behaviour and orders him to leave the field of play
• if the referee has stopped play, it is restarted with an indirect free kick for the opposing team from the position of the ball at the time of the stoppage (see Law 13 - Position of free kick)

If a named substitute enters the field of play instead of a named player at the start of the match and the referee is not informed of this change:
• the referee allows the named substitute to continue the match
• no disciplinary sanction is taken against the named substitute
• the number of substitutions allowed by the offending team is not reduced
• the referee reports the incident to the appropriate authorities

If a player changes places with the goalkeeper without the referee's permission before the change is made:

• the referee allows play to continue
• the referee cautions the players concerned when the ball is next out of play

In the event of any other infringements of this Law:

• the players concerned are cautioned
• the match is restarted with an indirect free kick, to be taken by a player of the opposing team from the position of the ball at the time of the stoppage (see Law 13 - Position of free kick)

Law 2 - the ball

Qualities and measurements

The ball is:

• Spherical
• Made of leather or other suitable material
• Of a circumference of not more than 70 cm (28 ins) and not less than 68 cm (27 ins)
• Of a pressure equal to 0.6 - 1.1 atmosphere (600 - 1,100 g/cm2) at sea level (8.5 lbs/sq in - 15.6 lbs/sq in)

Law-1 Field of play

Matches may be played on natural or artificial surfaces, according to the rules of the competition.

The colour of artificial surfaces must be green.

Where artificial surfaces are used in either competition matches between representative teams of member associations affiliated to FIFA or international club competition matches, the surface must meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Concept for Football Turf or the International Artificial Turf Standard, unless special dispensation is given by FIFA.