The Field of Play

1. Field surface

Use a wholly natural surface, or a wholly artificial surface if competition rules allow it. A hybrid of natural and artificial material also requires competition permission. Artificial pitches must be green.

Artificial surfaces for FIFA-affiliated national representative teams and international club competitions must satisfy the FIFA Quality Programme for Football Turf, unless IFAB grants a dispensation.

2. Field markings

The pitch is rectangular, with safe, continuous lines. Each line belongs to the area it bounds. Safe artificial material may mark a natural pitch. Only football markings are permitted on natural pitches; artificial pitches may have other clearly distinguishable markings in a different colour.

The longer boundaries are touchlines and the shorter boundaries are goal lines. The halfway line connects the midpoints of the touchlines; its midpoint is the centre mark.

• Centre circle radius: 9.15 m (10 yd).
• All lines have equal width, no more than 12 cm (5 in); goal lines match the width of the posts and crossbar.
• Optional marks outside the pitch may indicate 9.15 m (10 yd) from the corner arc, perpendicular to the goal line and touchline.
• Measure areas from the outside of their boundary lines. Measure the penalty mark from its centre to the back edge of the goal line.
• A player making unauthorised pitch marks is cautioned for unsporting behaviour; if seen during play, the caution follows when the ball next goes out.

3. General pitch dimensions

The touchline must be longer than the goal line. Competition rules may choose dimensions within these limits.

• Touchline length: 90–120 m (100–130 yd).
• Goal-line width: 45–90 m (50–100 yd).

4. International pitch dimensions

For international matches, competitions choose dimensions within narrower limits.

• Touchline length: 100–110 m (110–120 yd).
• Goal-line width: 64–75 m (70–80 yd).

5. Goal area

From points 5.5 m (6 yd) outside the inside of each goalpost, draw lines perpendicular to the goal line for 5.5 m (6 yd), then join them parallel to the goal line. These lines and the goal line enclose the goal area.

6. Penalty area

From points 16.5 m (18 yd) outside the inside of each post, draw perpendicular lines 16.5 m (18 yd) into the pitch and join them parallel to the goal line.

The penalty mark is 11 m (12 yd) from the midpoint between the posts. Outside the penalty area, mark an arc with a 9.15 m (10 yd) radius centred on that mark.

7. Corner area

Inside each corner, mark a quarter-circle with a radius of 1 m (1 yd), measured from the corner flagpost.

8. Flagposts

Each corner requires a flag on a non-pointed post at least 1.5 m (5 ft) high. Optional halfway-line flags must stand at least 1 m (1 yd) outside the touchline.

9. Technical area

Where stadium seating is designated for team officials and substitutes, the marked technical area should extend only 1 m (1 yd) beyond either side of the seating and no closer than 1 m (1 yd) to the touchline. Competition rules determine its permitted occupancy.

• Identify occupants before the match according to competition rules.
• Occupants must behave responsibly and remain inside, except in special circumstances such as authorised medical attendance on the pitch.
• Only one person at a time may give tactical instructions from the area.

10. Goals

Centre a goal on each goal line. The inside width is 7.32 m (8 yd); the lower edge of the crossbar is 2.44 m (8 ft) above ground. Secure every goal, including portable goals, firmly to the ground.

Posts and crossbars must use approved, non-dangerous materials. Both goals must have the same shape: square, rectangular, round, elliptical or a combination. Posts and bars must be white, with equal width and depth not exceeding 12 cm (5 in). The goal line must have the same width as the posts and crossbar.

Nets are optional but must be properly supported and must not obstruct the goalkeeper. FIFA Quality Programme goals are recommended for FIFA and confederation competitions.

Stop play if the crossbar breaks or moves. Repair or replace it and restart with a dropped ball; abandon the match if repair is impossible. A rope or flexible or dangerous replacement is prohibited.

11. Goal line technology

Competition rules must authorise GLT. Its only purpose is deciding whether a goal has been scored. It must give match officials an automatic, immediate indication within one second through the referee’s watch and/or headset; the video operation room may also receive it.

The organiser must ensure FIFA Quality Programme compliance. The referee must perform the prescribed pre-match test. A system failing that test must not be used, and the failure must be reported.

12. Commercial advertising

From entry until departure at half-time, and from re-entry until the match ends, real or virtual commercial advertising is prohibited on the pitch, the ground enclosed by goal nets, technical and referee review areas, and ground within 1 m (1 yd) of boundary lines.

Advertising is prohibited on goals, nets, flagposts and flags. External equipment such as cameras and microphones may not be attached to these.

• Upright advertising must be at least 1 m (1 yd) from touchlines.
• Its distance behind the goal line must be at least the depth of the net, and it must remain at least 1 m (1 yd) from the net.

13. Logos and emblems

During playing time, representative logos or emblems of football bodies, competitions, clubs or other organisations may not appear on the pitch, goals, nets, net-enclosed areas or flagposts, whether physically or virtually. They may appear on the flags.

14. VAR facilities

VAR matches require a video operation room (VOR) and at least one clearly marked referee review area (RRA), visibly located outside the pitch. The VOR may be near the stadium or remote; only authorised people may enter it or communicate with its VAR, AVAR and replay operator during the match.

A player, substitute, substituted player or team official entering the VOR is sent off. Entering the RRA results in a caution.