Yes. The amended VAR protocol allows to review ‘mistaken identity’ when the referee shows a yellow or red card but has clearly penalised the wrong player of either team. In this case, the YC for the defender is cancelled and play is restarted with a direct free kick to Team B.

Yes, the VAR can assist the referee in relation to a clearly incorrect second YC. After the referee reviews the replay footage, the second YC and the subsequent RC for the attacker are cancelled. The defender is shown a YC for simulation and play is restarted with an indirect free kick to the attacker’s team.

No. The VAR can only intervene when the referee shows a clearly incorrect yellow card which results in a red card, not when a potential second yellow card offence has been missed.

The referee plays the advantage following a DOGSO offence and, as a result, the attacking team scores, so the goal is awarded, and the goalkeeper is not cautioned or sent off.

The referee plays the advantage following a DOGSO offence and, as a result, the attacking team scores, so the goal is awarded, and the goalkeeper is not cautioned or sent off.

The referee plays the advantage following a DOGSO offence and, as a result, the attacking team scores, so the goal is awarded, and the defender who committed the offence is not cautioned or sent off.

Play is restarted with a dropped ball for one player of the team that would have retained or gained possession if this can be determined by the referee; otherwise, it is dropped for one player of the team that last touched it. The ball is dropped at its position when play was stopped.

The injured player may only re-enter (with the referee’s permission) after the free kick has been taken, but does not have to remain off the field for one minute.

Depending on the injury, the player is assessed and/or treated on the field of play. After that, the player must leave for one minute and may only return after play has restarted with a dropped ball (as outlined in Law 8), one minute (running clock) has elapsed and the referee has signalled for the player to return.

The referee stops play to ensure that the player receives medical attention. Depending on the injury, the player may be assessed and/or treated on the field of play but must then leave the field and remain off it until play has restarted and one minute has elapsed. As the injury is not the result of an offence, the referee restarts play with a dropped ball to a player of the attacking team at the position of the ball when play was stopped.

The referee cautions the defender (yellow card) for the reckless challenge and requires them to leave the field of play for treatment. The defender cannot be on the field when the penalty kick is taken and may only return (with the referee’s permission) one minute after play has restarted.

The referee stops play, awards a direct free kick and cautions (yellow card) the defender for the SPA offence. As the injury results from a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned, the attacker may stay on the field of play after the assessment/treatment.

The referee stops play and awards a direct free kick or penalty kick to Team B. The Team A player is sent off (serious foul play) and has to leave the field of play for treatment (the red card must be shown before the player leaves). The Team B player may stay on the field after the assessment/treatment.

The referee stops play and awards a direct free kick to Team B. The Team A player is cautioned (yellow card), must leave the field of play and remain off it until play has restarted and one minute has elapsed. The Team B player may stay on the field after the assessment /treatment.

The player can remain on the field of play and take the free kick if the injury results from a physical offence for which the opponent is cautioned (yellow card) or sent off (red card). Otherwise, the player must leave the field of play and may only re-enter one minute after play has restarted.

Although the ball must be stationary when a free kick is taken, the referee may apply the advantage if allowing play to continue is of greater benefit to the opposing team that ordering a retake.

Although the ball is not thrown from the point where it left the field of play, as the ball entered the field of play, the referee may apply the advantage if allowing play to continue is of greater benefit to the opposing team than awarding a throw-in.

According to Law 15, the thrower must have part of each foot on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline. Although the throw-in was not taken correctly, as the ball came into play, the referee may apply advantage and allow play to continue if this benefits the opposing team.

The defender committed two offences listed in Law 12 under ‘Cautions for unsporting behaviour’:

• a direct free kick offence committed in a reckless manner

• a DOGSO offence which was a challenge for the ball and resulted in a penalty kick

When more than one offence occurs at the same time, the referee punishes the more serious offence. As both offences are punishable with a yellow card, a yellow card is shown for the reckless challenge, as its physical severity is more serious than the ‘tactical’ DOGSO offence.

The referee stops play and awards a direct free kick. When two offences are committed at the same time, the more serious offence is punished, so the defender receives a red card for the DOGSO offence rather than a yellow card for the reckless foul.

The referee waited a few seconds to allow a possible advantage to develop. As Team A did not benefit from the decision to continue play, the referee returns to the original offence and awards a direct free kick to Team A from the position where the tackle occurred.

Referees’ decisions must always be respected and a team captain can be punished for dissent, just like any other player. Therefore, if a captain fails to interact with the referee in a respectful manner, a caution (yellow card) is issued.

The referee has the power to show cards during the half-time interval, even if the offence occurs off the field of play. The player is shown a red card for violent conduct, takes no further part in the match, and cannot be replaced. Since the card is shown off the field, the referee must inform both teams and, where appropriate, ensure an announcement is made to the spectators before the second half begins.

The referee has the authority to take disciplinary action until leaving the field of play. Even though the match has ended, an appropriate card may still be shown if it helps manage the situation or calm the player. Verbal dissent is punished with a caution (yellow card), unless the words are offensive, insulting, or abusive (red card). Regardless of whether the card is shown or not, the referee must report the offence to the appropriate authorities.

The referee has the power to show red and yellow cards from the moment they enter the field at the start of the match. Therefore, a caution (YC) issued between the coin toss and the kick-off is carried into the match, and if they receive a second YC during the match the player is sent off (shown a red card).

Play will be restarted with a dropped ball (as outlined in Law 8).

The object interfered with play so the referee stops a match and has the bottle removed from the field. If the match is not suspended or abandoned for safety reasons, play restarts with a dropped ball (as outlined in Law 8).

According to Law 5, the referee has the power to show cards during the half-time interval. Therefore, the player must be cautioned (yellow card) for dissent. If the card is shown off the field of play, the referee must inform both teams and, where appropriate, ensure that an announcement is made to spectators before the second half begins.

The referee stops play and awards a direct free kick from the position of the shirt-pulling offence. Since two separate cautionable offences have occurred, even though close together, the defender must receive two cautions: one for the reckless challenge and another for SPA. The defender is therefore shown two yellow cards, followed by a red card, and is sent off.

The referee awards a direct free kick to Team B and cautions the defender for the reckless challenge. When two offences are committed at the same time, only one yellow card is shown, as the referee punishes the more serious offence. In this case, the physical, reckless foul is more serious than the tactical offence of stopping a promising attack.

The player is sent off from the field of play and its surroundings. A second red card is not shown but the subsequent (verbal) offence must be included in the post-match report. Any additional sanction/suspension resulting from the offensive language will be decided by the appropriate disciplinary body.

Yes, the Laws of the Game protocol allows a temporarily dismissed player to participate in the penalties (penalty shoot-out) even if the full amount of the temporary dismissal period has not elapsed.

Law 5 clearly states that the referee has the power to show cards during the half-time interval. The offending player must be shown a red card for violent conduct, be prevented from taking any further part in the match, and cannot be replaced by a substitute. If the red card is not shown on the field of play, the player’s team and the opposing team should be informed and, where appropriate, an announcement made for the spectators before the start of the second half.

As the anticipated advantage did not materialise because of outside interference, the referee awards the (original) direct free kick from the position of the foul.

The referee allows play to continue. When the ball is next out of play, the player of Team A is cautioned (yellow card) for re-entering the field of play without permission and sanctioned for any further offence(s).

The referee stops play and awards a direct free kick to the attacking team. In terms of disciplinary sanction, the referee punishes the more serious offence, so it is a red card for the DOGSO offence, not a yellow card for the reckless foul.

The referee stops play, cautions (yellow card) the defender and awards a direct free kick to the attacking team as the foul has occurred before the offside offence. The referee could not allow play to continue because the attacking team could not benefit from the advantage in this situation as their team-mate was offside.

The referee plays the advantage for the goalkeeper’s offence and awards the goal. As the penalty kick is not retaken, there is no disciplinary sanction (warning or caution) for the goalkeeper.

As the red card offence occurred before the substitution, the player is sent off and the substitution is cancelled. The injured player can remain on the field of play for/after treatment. If the offence occurred when the ball was in play, play restarts with a direct free kick to Team A (or a penalty kick if it occurred in Team B's penalty area).

The referee awards a penalty kick and sends off the defender. When two offences occur at the same time, the more serious offence must be punished. Therefore, it is a red card for serious foul play (not a yellow card for the DOGSO offence that was a challenge for the ball inside the penalty area).

The referee may take disciplinary action against team officials who fail to act in a responsible manner during kicks. The coach will be cautioned (yellow card) or sent off (red card) depending on the exact circumstances.

The referee may change a decision until play has restarted:

• the change from a red card to a yellow card is permitted

• cancelling the substitution is permitted:

  • within the 'spirit' of the Law and for fairness as it only occurred because of the referee's error.

  • within the letter of the Law as the referee technically changes the decision to allow the substitution.

The offender cannot be named on the team list or play in the match and is reported to the appropriate authority. The number of players and substitutes is not reduced. A red card is not shown as cards may not be shown until the referee enters the field of play at the start of the match.

The indirect free kick is retaken by the same team.

Yes, provided that the referee and both teams agree. The referee may also decide to stop, suspend or abandon the match if the condition of the field, its surrounds or the weather conditions do not allow the game to be continued.

The injured player is cautioned (yellow card) and must leave the field on the stretcher or on foot.

The referee plays advantage for the offence by Team B and awards the goal.

The referee allows play to continue (accidental incident, no offence) unless the attacker requires medical attention. In this situation, the referee stops play and allows a doctor to enter the field and examine the player. Play will be restarted with a dropped ball for the defending team goalkeeper in their penalty area. 

Both players must be sent off (red card) for violent conduct. If the referee decides that: 

• Team A player committed the offence first – penalty kick for Team B 

• Team B player committed the offence first – direct free kick for Team A 

• the two players committed the offences at the same time – penalty kick for Team B because Team A player committed the more serious offence in terms of the restart

The referee ensures that the player leaves the field. The player may only re-enter on receiving a signal from the referee, who must be satisfied that the bleeding has stopped and there is no blood on the player's equipment.

No, it is not permitted except for:

1. a case of mistaken identity or

2. for a potential sending-off offence relating to violent conduct, spitting, biting or extremely offensive, insulting and/or abusive action(s).

The offending player cannot be cautioned, or a yellow card shown, as the offence has occurred before the referee has entered the field of play at the start of the match. The incident is reported to the appropriate disciplinary authorities.

The referee may not change a restart decision and may not award a penalty kick. A red card for violent conduct may be issued because the assistant referee had identified and attempted to communicate the offence to the referee before play restarted. 

The referee stops play. Both players may be treated on the field of play and do not have to leave it.

The yellow card must be shown before the player leaves but if the player is seriously injured the referee should show some empathy when showing the card.

Both players must receive the appropriate disciplinary sanction:

• caution (yellow card) for a reckless challenge

• sending-off (red card) for violent conduct

Play is restarted with a direct free kick for Team A because the player from Team B committed the more serious offence.

The player (Team A) must be cautioned (yellow card, YC) when play next stops. The Laws state that the referee punishes the more serious offence when more than one offence occurs at the same time. Thus, if a promising attack is stopped (SPA) by a reckless challenge then the YC is for the reckless challenge and not SPA.

A ‘VAR-only review’ is usually appropriate for factual decisions e.g. location of an offence (inside/outside the penalty area), offside, ball out of play etc.

Only one ‘TV signal’ is needed so the VAR tells the referee what the TV replays show and the referee then makes the 'TV signal' immediately before giving the final decision.

The referee stops play when the ball is next in a neutral zone/situation and shows the ‘TV signal’. As this is a subjective decision, an ‘on-field review’ (OFR) is appropriate so the referee goes to the referee review area to view replay footage before making a final decision.

No. The referee will allow both players to be treated and then remain on the field.

The referee punishes the more serious offence, in terms of sanction, restart, physical severity and tactical impact.

No. The VAR is only used after the referee has made a first decision (including allowing play to continue), or if a serious incident is missed/not seen by the match officials.

Yes. Once the review is initiated, the referee has the option to review the replay footage directly. A VAR-only review is usually only appropriate for factual decisions e.g. position of an offence or player (offside), point of contact (handball/foul), location (inside or outside the penalty area). However, with both a VAR-only review and an on-field review, it is the referee who makes the final decision, not the VAR.

Both offences are reported by the referee but the second RC is not shown. The length of the suspension is defined by competition/disciplinary rules, not by the Laws of the Game. The decision is made by the appropriate disciplinary committee.

Yes. The referee may receive assistance from the VAR in case of offence by the goalkeeper and/or kicker at the taking of a penalty kick.

Whichever offence occurs first is penalised so the foul is only penalised if it occurs before the player in an offside position commits an offside offence (e.g. touched the ball).

If both offences occur at the same time the foul is penalised as it is more serious i.e. offside is punished with an indirect free kick whereas the foul is punished with a direct free kick.

Yes, the referee should allow quick treatment on the field of play before the penalty kick is taken as it would be unfair if the team’s kicker has to leave the field and cannot take the penalty kick.

The player can take the throw-in if:

• play has restarted between the player leaving the field for treatment and the player’s request

  and

• before taking the throw-in, the player enters the field of play – this need only involves touching the touchline with their foot.

Yes, a disciplinary sanction may (only) be issued after play has restarted if another match official had identified and attempted to communicate the offence to the referee before play restarted subject also to the provisions of Law 12.3 and the VAR protocol.

Deliberately throwing or kicking an object onto the field of play is punished with a sending-off (red card, RC). The senior coach (usually the main coach) present in the technical area will receive the sanction – as the person responsible for other team officials.

The player will be shown a yellow card, then the second yellow card and – as a result – the red card and sent off unless the first offence was 'interfering with or stopping a promising attack' in which case this offence does not receive a yellow card (as the advantage effectively restored the promising attack).