A number of changes have come into effect as of 1st July 2025
Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct – A corner kick is awarded if a goalkeeper, inside their penalty area, controls the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) for more than eight seconds before releasing it. The referee will decide when the goalkeeper has control of the ball and the eight seconds begin and will visually count down the last five seconds with a raised hand.
Law 3 – The Players – The FAI is committed to reinforcing the ‘Only the Captain’ policy at all levels of the game. Normal interactions between players and the referee are allowed and remain important.
- Players showing dissent by word or action will be cautioned
- Key decisions will be explained to the captain: [Penalty area decisions/ Red cards/ Serious Foul Play/ Goal Decisions]. The captain must approach the referee and engage in a respectful manner.