Rules & Laws

When handball is and isn't an offence — one of football's most debated and evolving laws.

The exact procedure for taking a penalty, goalkeeper movement, and rebounding rules.

When referees wave play on after a foul to benefit the fouled team.

Restart procedures and the tactical opportunities each set-piece creates.

The line between a fair tackle and a foul — studs-up challenges, high feet, and elbows.

The three ways an offside-positioned player can be penalised — the nuances refs must judge.

What triggers a VAR check, who initiates it, and why some decisions still feel inconsistent.

How knockout ties are decided beyond 90 minutes — the rules of extra time and penalty shootouts.

Mandatory and prohibited equipment — from shin guards to jewellery bans.