Section 8: Safety Considerations
Player Safety
Player safety is a fundamental principle underlying the Laws of the Game. The referee must stop play if a player is seriously injured and ensure the player is removed from the field. Play only restarts after the injured player has left the field, unless the injury was clearly minor. A player with a bleeding wound must leave the field and may not return until the bleeding has stopped and the wound is covered.
Concussion Protocol
IFAB has established a permanent concussion substitution protocol. If a player is suspected of sustaining a concussion, the team doctor may request that the player be substituted using the additional concussion substitution allowance. The player must not return to the match. This substitution does not count toward the team's regular substitution limit and is intended to remove any pressure on medical staff to allow a potentially concussed player to continue.
Lightning and Weather
The referee has the authority to suspend or abandon a match due to dangerous weather conditions, including lightning, extreme heat, or poor visibility. Matches may be suspended temporarily and resumed if conditions improve, or abandoned if conditions do not improve within a reasonable time.
Captain-Only Communication (Optional — effective 2025)
Competitions may adopt the optional "captain only" rule, which restricts communication with the referee to the team captain only. Implemented in the Premier League and endorsed by FIFA for the 2025-2026 season, this rule aims to reduce referee harassment and improve match flow. Non-captain players who approach or confront the referee may receive a yellow card.
Artificial Playing Surfaces
Where artificial turf is used, it must meet the requirements of the FIFA Quality Programme. The surface must be green and meet specific criteria for shock absorption, ball bounce, ball roll, and rotational resistance to protect player safety and preserve the quality of play.
Medical Provisions
The competition organizer must ensure adequate medical facilities and personnel are available at the match venue. A stretcher and medical personnel must be present at all official matches. In professional competition, an ambulance must be on standby at the venue.
Crowd Safety
While primarily governed by competition regulations rather than the Laws of the Game, the safety of spectators is a consideration. The referee has the authority to suspend or abandon a match if crowd behavior endangers players, officials, or spectators. Objects thrown onto the field must be removed before play continues.
Heat Breaks
In matches played in extreme heat conditions, the referee may authorize cooling breaks (separate from the half-time interval) of up to three minutes, typically around the 30th and 75th minutes of play. These are medical recommendations implemented to protect player health and are distinct from drinks breaks.