# Football/soccer rule changes **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 19, 2015, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239 "2015-01-19T01:06:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/1 "2015-01-19T01:06:10Z")
Seems to me that FB/Soccer almost never change rules. Have there been any significant rule changes in the last 30 years or so? American sports change rules pretty much every year which is overkill in a lot of the changes. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/2 "2015-01-19T01:44:09Z")
This shows the latest changes up to 2006 - [http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/history/the-laws/2001-2006.html](http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/history/the-laws/2001-2006.html) Not sure if there were changes after that. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/3 "2015-01-19T06:37:34Z")
The [back-pass rule](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back-pass_rule) was introduced 33 years ago, and was a fairly major change. As far as I know it’s pretty universally accepted as an improvement to the game. Nobody much enjoys watching time-wasting by goalkeepers. [Goal-line technology](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goal-line_technology) was approved by FIFA in 2012. It’s used in the World Cup, Premier League, and MLS, though many competitions have declined to implement it due to cost or other objections. Many top leagues now allow their referees to use [vanishing spray](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanishing_spray) to mark the minimum distance the defense must stay back from free kicks. I think this is reasonably well liked by fans, as it makes it harder for defenders in a wall to creep up closer to the kick-taker and cut down his angle. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/4 "2015-01-19T07:18:56Z")
Make that 23 years ago for the back-pass rule. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/5 "2015-01-19T07:45:57Z")
Interpretation of the offside rule has changed in the last few decades. Iniesta ’ s 2010 final goal would have been offside under the old interpretation for instance. Not a rule change. But certainly effects have been felt. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/6 "2015-01-19T08:09:46Z")
Number of substitutions has changed - three changes permitted nowadays. Pretty sure it was one when I were a lad. The back-pass rule (mentioned above) sticks out a mile, though, as the one that has really changed how the game is played. Can’t think of any other example that has had such an impact. Off the pitch the Bosman-ruling was very significant - a court case that established precedent for freedom of movement of European players between clubs. Based on the freedom of labour movement that is axiomatic to EU law, it was like a de-regulation of the transfer system and made it easier for players to move between clubs. Also removed restrictions like x-foreign players per team that some leagues used to have. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 8:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/7 "2015-01-19T08:48:26Z")
the change to 3pts for a win rather than 2 was a big one, but quite long standing now. ETA: just looked it up 1981 in the UK ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/8 "2015-01-20T00:13:49Z")
Funny how many of those changes are about uniforms. I thought I remembered that the goalie could pick up a ball that was passed to him. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/9 "2015-01-20T00:24:56Z")
It can’t have been that long ago that they changed how far a goalie could walk/run whilst holding the ball. Oh and being able to choose what side of the box to do a goal kick from. They also occasionally trial new rules in lesser competitions. I seem to remember ‘no offsides for a free kick’ being done somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/10 "2015-01-20T00:30:20Z")
It’s all gone downhill since [the multiball rule were declared](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iq1d07gYl8o), if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/11 "2015-01-20T09:32:37Z")
(Nitpick) Soccer doesn’t have any rules, it has laws. The reason that the laws haven’t changed a great deal is because the laws are governed by the International Board, which consists of four members of the Home Nations (one each from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland - the first four football associations) and four from FIFA. A majority of 6-2 is required to change a law, which means there has to be a pretty strong consensus to make any major change. Most of the changes in soccer over the past few years have been FIFA directives, which, though not altering the laws, instruct referees on the interpretation of them. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/12 "2015-01-20T21:02:49Z")
> [@mascaroni](#): > > (Nitpick) Soccer doesn’t have any rules, it has laws. :rolleyes: The Golden Goal rule was eliminated not that long ago. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2015, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/13 "2015-01-21T07:52:57Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > :rolleyes: > The Golden Goal rule was eliminated not that long ago. That was a competition rule not a law of the game. So roll your eyes for twenty minutes and then decide that I’m right. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2015, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/14 "2015-01-22T05:03:34Z")
1)25 man squads 2)entire roster available as subs in the World Cup 3)sliding tackles have been more severely watched and more cards issued ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/15 "2015-01-23T17:14:06Z")
> [@Busy\_Scissors](#): > > Also removed restrictions like x-foreign players per team that some leagues used to have. Not quite, what it did was redefine “foreigner” as “not holding an EU passport.” ---
**Author:** ![JessMagic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c0e974/32.png) [@JessMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JessMagic)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-soccer-rule-changes/710239/16 "2015-02-19T01:08:38Z")
> [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](#): > > the change to 3pts for a win rather than 2 was a big one, but quite long standing now. > > ETA: just looked it up 1981 in the UK Oooh, obligatory Angry Scot jumping in! England made the change in 1981 - in Scotland we held on to two points per win until the 1994/95 season. Also it was still “two points for a win” at the 1990 World Cup Finals, changed to three points for the 1994 competition. This wiki page shows when national associations adopted three points per win - only a handful made the switch prior to the 1990s: > **[Three points for a win](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_points_for_a_win#Year_of_adoption_of_3-points-for-a-win)** > > Three points for a win is a standard used in many sports leagues and group tournaments, especially in association football, in which 3 points are awarded to the team winning a match, with no points awarded to the losing team. If the game is drawn, each team receives 1 point. Many leagues and competitions originally awarded 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw, before switching to the three points for a win system. The change is significant in league tables, where teams typically play 30–40 ...