Laws of Football 2003 Trivia Quiz

Answer: A change to the procedure when matches are decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Up to July 2003 the captain who won the toss (the coin is tossed by the referee) had to have his/her team take the first kick in a penalty shoot-out, where a match was decided in this way. Now the captain winning the toss has to decide whether his/her team takes the first, or the second kick. Goal-nets remain optional under the Laws at any level of football (see Law 1).

There is also a reported case many years ago of a referee at the higher level cautioning a player for being continually off-side.

However, referees do not do this nowadays although the law relating to cautions for "unsporting behaviour" might be open to this interpretation. Finally, Sunday amateur football in England has never been for the faint-hearted!

Answer: No

No this change hasn't happened yet. However, bearing in mind how much the game of association football at the professional level depends on media support watch out for this change in future years. Referees on some games have to wait for a signal from the touch-line before allowing the game to start. This is to enable the media advertising to finish!

Answer: Yes

This is a change and manufacturers' logos can now safely be displayed on the boot as well as the shorts and socks. Players may still not reveal advertising by removing their shirt. Clearly all must be revealed from the start of the game. Players revealing advertising beneath their shirt are only reported to the competition and are not cautioned by the referee.

Answer: For certain offences when a penalty is taken.

Referees have been told to be stricter to stop goalkeepers moving off their goal-line before a penalty is taken. Also, to stop players encroaching into the penalty area before the penalty kick is taken. It does not take much deep thought to work out why this has been done!
Referees have always had the power to have the penalty kick retaken if necessary.

Answer: He/she assists the referee and officiates (as directed by the competition organizer) if an injury occurs.

The "Fourth Official" is told prior to the match as to whether he/she takes over from the referee if an injury occurs, or whether the senior assistant referee goes in the middle and the fourth official takes over as assistant referee. The competition organizer decides this issue in advance.

The law change is just to emphasize that the "Fourth Official" assists the referee at all times in all his/her duties as required and as allowed by law.

Answer: no

Strangely this situation continues (until it happens in a big game!). If the ball hits an outside agent (for example a dog) while moving towards the goal the kick is re-taken. The bursting of the ball is not allowed for in Law 14 so the legally minded have to go to Law 8 to find that the correct re-start is a dropped ball. Clearly, the referee will have to deal with all the yellow and red cards that will be flying like confetti at attacking players wondering why the kick is not being retaken!

Answer: not allowed at all anywhere

"Sin-bins" as they are called are not allowed and they are firmly condemned. An idea that comes from ice-hockey and seems to be used, contrary to the decisions of those at the top of football, to avoid normal methods of discipline at "five-a-side" centres.

The authorities then only see written reports from the referee on "cautions" and "sendings off". The informal "sin-bins" are not recorded after the game.

Answer: a good idea to be developed

The clear advantages have been seen and the concept of artificial playing surfaces is being progressed within the game.

Answer: no

No change has been made, but one will surely come in future years. Referees now only rule off-side those players actively playing the ball, but although referees understand the concepts involved, the media and everyone else have a problem with the complexities of the law as it stands. Assistant referees are now told to hold their flag after the ball has been kicked to see where it goes and how the player being flagged plays the ball.

The media still wrongly criticise this practice and the Football Associations seem to lack media communication skills.

Answer: yes

The "Laws of Association Football" are revised halfway through each year (to allow for the yearly amendments) and may be purchased from shops (the 2002/3 Laws cost £4 sterling) and certainly may be obtained from the Football Associations of individual countries.