Amendments to FIFA Laws of the Game 2009-2010

(*changes are in bold)

Law 1 - Field of Play Matches may be played on natural or artificial surfaces, according to the rules of the competition.
The color of artificial surfaces must be green.
Where artificial surfaces are used in either competition matches between representative teams of member associations affiliate 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.

Law 11 - Offside When an offside offence occurs, the referee awards an indirect free kick to be taken from the position of the offending player when the ball was last played to him by one of his team-mates.
Any defending player leaving the field of play for any reason without the referee's permission shall be considered to be on his own goal line or touch line for the purposes of offside until the next stoppage in play. If the player leaves the field of play deliberately, he must be cautioned when the ball is next out of play.

Interpretation:
1. A defending player cannot put an opponent into an offside position by moving or stepping out of the field of play.
2. The defending player who leaves the field of play deliberately must be cautioned for unsporting behavior.

Procedures to determine the Winner of a Match or Home-And-Away
Kick from the Penalty Mark
If at the end of a match and before the kicks start to be taken from the penalty mark, one team has a greater number of players than its opponents, it must reduce its number to equate with that of its opponents and the team captain must inform the referee of the name and number of each player excluded. Any player thus excluded may not participate in kicks from the penalty mark.

Interpretation:
1. Player excluded may not take part in the kicks.
2. The team who has not completed its permitted number of substitution can still replaced the goalkeeper who is injured during the kicks.

Technical Area - only one person at a time is authorized to convey tactical instructions from the technical area.

Interpretation:
1. At any time only one person can convey tactical instruction.
2. The person conveying tactical instruction may stand in the technical area and need not return to his position after giving instructions.
3. Any one person can stand at a time.

Referees must stop the match if, in his opinion, a player is seriously injured.

Changes to the Laws of the Game are binding for MAs as from 1 July 2009. MA may delay the introduction if its current season has not ended.

Interpretation by: Amir Sharifuddin Wong (FA Maldives Referees Director)