FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
FIFA founded 1904
40 Laws of the Game and Universal Guide for Referees
English Edition Issued July 1984 FÉDÉRATION. INTERNATIONALE DE, FOOTBALl. ASSOCIATION
Laws of the Game and Universal Guide for Referees FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Laws of the Game and Universal Guide for Referees
English Edition
Issued July 1984 Authorised by the International Football Association Board
This work may not be reproduced or translated in whole or in part in any manner without permission of FIFA
Published by Fédération Internationale de Football Association, Hitzigweg 11, 8030 Zurich, Switzerland FEDERATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
President: Dr. Jodo Havelange (Brazil)
General Secretary: Joseph S. Blatter (Switzerland)
Address: "FIFA House" 11 Hitzigweg 8032 Zurich Switzerland
FIFA REFEREES' COMMITTEE
Chairman: Harry H. Cavan (Northern Ireland)
Members : Abilio d'Almeida (Brazil) Javier Arriaga (Mexico) Nikolaj Latyshev (USSR) Fernando Álvarez (Philippines) Roger Mdchin (France) Adolfo Reginato (Chile) Omar Sey (Gambia) Thomas Wharton (Scotland)
PREFACE
" As usual, FIFA issues the new annual edition of the "Laws of the Game and Univ viaal Guide for Rfer"e IV. in the four offiialc FIFA lanuaesg g (Enlishg , French, Spanish and German) as soon as possible after the International Football Asso- ciation Board meeting.
The present edition contains amendments decided upon by the International Foot- ball Association Board at its meeting in Turnburry, Scotland on 2 June 1984. This time, situations in the goal-area are concerned, where the grouping of player should be avoided in future with more preciseness in the Laws of the Game. Laws VIII - Start of Play and XIII - Free-Kick are affected by these decisions .
" The co-operation between the International Board and FIFA is excellent and offers the World Football Federation a clear codification of the Laws of the Game, which forms the base for their uniform interpretation and hence emphasizes FIFA's lead ing role worldwide. I would like to express my thanks and appreciation once again to the International F.A. Board for achieving this.
FIFA, together with the Confederations and the National Associations, must emphasize the need for control and uniformity in world refereeing. The major point really arises in how the rules are applied . According to tradition, the Laws of the Game of football are not static or inflexible . Wisely, they follow the march of time and try to conform to the development of the game. For this reason, they have been and always will be up to date. This is the highest praise which I think can be offered to the work of the Board.
The Laws of the Game published in this edition are the official Laws valid for association football. Experiments with the Laws of the Game can only be carried out with the authorisation of FIFA and the International Board. If the results of such experiments are satisfactory, they will be put forward to the International Board as proposals. I would nevertheless like to draw the attention of all affiliated National Associations and referees that experiments which have not been author- ised by FIFA and/or the International F.A. Board may not be permitted .
July 1984
Dr. Jodo Havelange President of FIFA