2026/27 season changes · In force since 1 July 2026. Where they differ from the summary below, these changes take precedence.
- DOGSO with advantage: no caution: An offence to deny a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity will not be cautioned if the referee applies advantage and the goal is scored. A failed handball attempt to deny a goal is also not cautioned when advantage is played.
- DOGSO: consider the attackers: A reference to the attackers (position and number) is added to the list of factors to consider for offences intended to deny a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
- Delaying the restart is cautionable: It specifies when to caution for delaying the restart: faking a throw-in and passing it to a team-mate, dawdling when being substituted, throwing or holding the ball after the whistle, or deliberately taking a free kick from the wrong place.
- Glossary: careless: Updated definition of careless: an action (usually a tackle or challenge) in which a player shows a lack of attention or consideration towards an opponent.
Direct free kick
Awarded if a player commits, in a careless, reckless or excessively forceful manner: charging, jumping at, kicking, pushing, striking, tackling or tripping. Also for holding, impeding with contact, biting, spitting or throwing an object.
Deliberate handball
It is an offence if a player deliberately touches the ball with the hand/arm, makes their body unnaturally bigger, or scores with the hand (even accidentally). The boundary of the arm is defined as the bottom of the armpit.
Indirect free kick
Playing dangerously, impeding without contact, preventing the goalkeeper releasing the ball, and goalkeeper offences: handling after a deliberate pass from a team-mate, handling from a team-mate's throw-in, or controlling the ball for more than six seconds.
DOGSO
Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity is punished by sending off. But if the offence is an attempt to play the ball inside the penalty area, the sanction is reduced to a caution (the 'triple punishment' no longer applies).
Caution (yellow card)
Unsporting behaviour, dissent by word or action, persistent offences, delaying the restart, failing to respect the required distance, entering or leaving without permission.
Sending off (red card)
Serious foul play, violent conduct, biting or spitting, DOGSO by handball, DOGSO outside the area, offensive language, and receiving a second caution.
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