<p class="reg-lead">The January 2027 edition of the Procedural Rules Governing the FIFA Football Tribunal, approved on 10 June 2026 and in force from 1 January 2027; in Article 3 it provides that the Tribunal is to apply the FIFA regulations primarily and Swiss law additionally.</p>

<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>Approved</td><td><b>10 June 2026</b> — Bureau of the FIFA Council</td></tr>
<tr><td>In force from</td><td><b>1 January 2027</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td><b>35 articles</b> + one annexe, in four parts</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td>In force from the start of 2027; until then the January 2026 edition governs</td></tr>
</table>

<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What are the Procedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal?</h2>
<p>The Football Tribunal is FIFA's quasi-judicial body, composed of three chambers: the <strong>Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC)</strong> for contractual disputes and training compensation cases, the <strong>Players' Status Chamber (PSC)</strong> for regulatory cases such as the international transfer of players under 18 and changes of association, and the <strong>Agents Chamber (AC)</strong> for disputes concerning football agents. The present Procedural Rules determine the rules of procedure before all three chambers: from how a claim is lodged and the applicable time limits to evidence, the language of proceedings and the notification of decisions.</p>
</div>

<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>About the January 2027 edition<span class="reg-tag">Changes from January 2026</span></h2>
<p>This document is the <strong>seventh edition</strong> of the Procedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal since the Tribunal was established (previous editions: October 2021, June 2022, October 2022, March 2023, January 2025 and January 2026).</p>
<p>The present edition was approved by the <strong>Bureau of the FIFA Council</strong> on <strong>10 June 2026</strong> and, pursuant to its Article 35, comes into force on <strong>1 January 2027</strong>, replacing the January 2026 edition (approved by the FIFA Council on 17 December 2025). The overall structure of the document — 35 articles and one annexe — has been retained.</p>
<p><strong>Transitional rule:</strong> contrary to the common assumption that new procedural rules govern only new claims, Article 32(1) of this edition specifies that proceedings initiated <strong>before</strong> its entry into force are also subject to these Rules, and decisions on the details of their application to pending cases rest with the FIFA general secretariat (Article 32(2)).</p>
<h3>The most significant substantive change from the January 2026 edition — Article 3</h3>
<p>The title of this article has changed from "Applicable law" to "Applicable rules and regulations" and its text has been rewritten in full:</p>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">2026 text</b>The chambers of the Tribunal apply the FIFA Statutes and regulations "whilst taking into account all relevant arrangements, laws and/or collective bargaining agreements that exist at national level".</li>
<li><b class="t">2027 text</b>"The Football Tribunal will primarily apply the FIFA regulations and, additionally, Swiss law."</li>
</ol>
<p>The express reference to national laws and collective bargaining agreements has thus been removed from Article 3 and replaced by Swiss law as the subsidiary law — a point of direct significance, when drafting submissions, for parties who build their case on domestic rules (including national association regulations or contracts governed by national law).</p>
<p>Among the formal changes: the title of Article 35 has changed from "Entry into force" to "Adoption and entry into force", and the transitional paragraph on the entry into force of the Agents Chamber provisions as of 1 October 2023 — which had become obsolete — has been deleted.</p>
<div class="reg-note"><strong>Operative status:</strong> until 31 December 2026, the January 2026 edition continues to govern proceedings before the Football Tribunal.</div>
</div>

<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Structure of the document</h2>
<p>The document comprises 35 articles and one annexe, arranged in four parts: <strong>general provisions</strong> (scope, jurisdiction, composition of the chambers, independence and conflicts of interest, confidentiality); <strong>general procedural rules</strong> (parties, notifications, time limits, submissions and evidence, language of proceedings and publication of decisions); <strong>specific proceedings</strong>, covering claims before each of the three chambers, including claims for training compensation (Article 28), the international transfer or first registration of a minor player (Article 30) and petitions for a change of association (Article 31); and <strong>final provisions</strong>, including transitional rules, matters not provided for and force majeure.</p>
</div>

<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>Players and coaches in a contractual dispute with a foreign club, clubs involved in international transfer cases or claims for training compensation and the solidarity mechanism, FIFA-licensed agents, and sports lawyers must comply with the formal rules of this document before bringing any claim before the Football Tribunal; failure to observe its time limits and formalities can lead to a claim being dismissed on formal grounds.</p>
<p>The full English text of this edition is available via the download button on this page, and the other editions can be viewed in the "Editions of these regulations" box.</p>
</div>

Procedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal - January 2027 edition

<p class="reg-lead">A summary of the changes to the FIBA Official Basketball Rules, in force from 1 October 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>1 October 2026</b> — published in July 2026, version 1.1</td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>25 pages — prepared by FIBA Referee Operations</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current version</strong></td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What is this document?</h2>
<p>A document FIBA publishes alongside the full text of the rules to ease preparation for the changes. For each amended article it provides two things: the <strong>reason for the change</strong> and the <strong>new rulebook text</strong>. Articles covered: 1 Definitions, 2 Court, 4 Teams, 15 Player in the act of shooting, 24 Dribbling, 36 Technical foul, 37 Unsportsmanlike foul, 38 Disqualifying foul, and the appendices on officials' signals, the scoresheet, the classification of teams and the Instant Replay System.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Key points</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Primacy of the official text</b>The document itself states that the summary <strong>does not cover all minor and editorial changes</strong> and that, in the event of conflict, <strong>the final text of the Official Basketball Rules prevails</strong>. Legal citation must refer to the text of the rules, not to this summary.</li>
<li><b class="t">Value of the "reason for the change"</b>For each article, the reason for the change is set out expressly — something that does not appear in the rulebook itself and is of value in interpreting the rule-maker's intent.</li>
<li><b class="t">Publication timeline</b>The full text of the rules is published in July 2026 and the official interpretations in September 2026; the summary of changes becomes available before both.</li>
<li><b class="t">Restriction on use</b>The document states that its content must not be altered and must not be presented under the federation's mark without the written permission of FIBA Referee Operations.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>For referees, coaches and instructors, the fastest way to see what changes from 1 October 2026. For a lawyer, the "reason for the change" sections can assist in interpreting the new articles — with the caveat that the document itself gives priority to the text of the rules.</p>
</div>

FIBA Official Basketball Rules Changes 2026

<p class="reg-lead">The International Basketball Federation's Official Basketball Rules, in force from 1 October 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>1 October 2026</b> — approved by the FIBA Central Board</td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>108 pages — the "Basketball Rules" part of the two-part publication of the Official Rules</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong></td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What are the Official Basketball Rules?</h2>
<p>The Official Basketball Rules (OBR) are approved by the FIBA Central Board and published in two separate documents: <strong>Basketball Rules</strong> and <strong>Basketball Equipment</strong>. A new edition normally comes into force on <strong>1 October</strong> each year. Before approval, the Rules Advisory Group (RAG) — composed of basketball and officiating experts — reviews all proposals and presents them to the Technical Commission.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Key changes in this edition</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Restructuring of the foul system</b>The most significant structural change: <strong>the unsportsmanlike foul has given way to two new categories</strong> — Article 37, the <strong>Disruptive Foul</strong>, and Article 38, the <strong>Flagrant Foul</strong>. Article 39 remains the disqualifying foul. Between the personal foul and disqualification there are now two steps rather than one.</li>
<li><b class="t">Definition of the disruptive foul</b>A disruptive foul is illegal contact that does not rise to the level of a flagrant foul but <strong>disrupts the flow of the game</strong> and places the opponent at a disadvantage: unnecessary contact by a defender who is making no legitimate attempt to play the ball and seeks to stop the attacking team's progress on a fast break, or to stop the game clock and shot clock at the end of a quarter or overtime, or contact from behind or from the side against a player advancing towards the opponents' basket with no defender between that player and the basket.</li>
<li><b class="t">Two classes of technical foul</b>Article 36 divides technical fouls into <strong>Class 1 and Class 2</strong>. <strong>Only a Class 1 technical foul leads to ejection from the game</strong>; Class 2 does not count towards ejection. Class 1 covers conduct such as disrespectful contact with referees and officials, using provocative language or gestures towards spectators, and baiting or taunting an opponent.</li>
<li><b class="t">Redefinition of the "act of shooting"</b>Article 15 defines more precisely where the <strong>act of shooting</strong> begins and ends, and sets out separate definitions for the jump shot, the drive to the basket and other moving shots. The stated reason is explicit: players are increasingly manipulating the situation to draw a shooting foul. In addition, <strong>a shot from a team's own half of the court is disregarded</strong>, except at the end of a quarter or overtime or at the end of the shot clock.</li>
<li><b class="t">Second dribble</b>Article 24 clarifies that after a player's first dribble has ended, the player may dribble again only if they have lost control of the live ball — through a shot, through an opponent touching the ball, or when the ball touches another player on a pass or a fumble.</li>
<li><b class="t">Colour of the court lines</b>Article 2.5: the colour of the boundary lines and court markings may vary to make <strong>event branding</strong> possible — provided that all boundary lines are the same colour and each pair of markings on the two halves of the court match. The centre line and centre circle may be a different colour.</li>
<li><b class="t">Apparel</b>Article 4.3: the requirement that <strong>socks be visible</strong> has been removed. Long-sleeved shirts are not permitted, sleeves must end above the elbow, the shirt must be tucked into the shorts and the shorts must end above the knee; the socks of all team members must be of the same dominant colour.</li>
<li><b class="t">Commissioner and technical delegate</b>Article 1.1: wherever the rule book refers to the "commissioner", this also includes the <strong>technical delegate</strong>.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>In any challenge to a referee's decision, the text of the rules is the starting point. The restructuring of the foul system has a direct practical effect: conduct previously classed as "unsportsmanlike" must now fall into one of the two categories of disruptive or flagrant foul, and the distinction between Class 1 and Class 2 technical fouls determines whether a player is ejected from the game. The <strong>Official Interpretations (OBRI)</strong>, which show how these rules are applied, are published separately.</p>
</div>

FIBA Official Basketball Rules 2026

<p class="reg-lead">The International Handball Federation's Rules of the Game for Wheelchair Handball Four-a-Side, in force from 1 July 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>1 July 2026</b> — adopted by the IHF Council</td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>Chapter IX, Section d of the body of regulations of the International Handball Federation</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current version</strong> — a self-contained set of 13 rules</td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>How does four-a-side differ from six-a-side?</h2>
<p>The regulations of the International Handball Federation (IHF) form a set of numbered chapters, headed by the Statutes, with each chapter governing one area. This document is <strong>Chapter IX, Section d</strong> of that body.</p><p>Unlike the six-a-side format, which consists of modifications to the rules of indoor handball, the four-a-side format <strong>has its own self-contained set of rules</strong>: thirteen rules running from the definition of the game and the team to the court, the goal, the ball, playing attire, straps and violations, together with the wheelchair specifications and a section of clarifications.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Structure of these rules</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Dedicated rules on the court and the goal</b>Rules 6 and 7 set out the dimensions of the court and the goal separately, because they are not identical to those of indoor handball.</li>
<li><b class="t">Straps as a stand-alone rule</b>Rule 11 is devoted to <strong>the straps securing the player to the wheelchair</strong> — a subject with no equivalent in the other formats.</li>
<li><b class="t">Equipment and attire</b>Rules 9 and 10 govern playing equipment and attire separately from one another.</li>
<li><b class="t">Wheelchair specifications and clarifications</b>The second and third parts of the document are devoted to the technical specifications of the wheelchair and to supplementary clarifications of the rules.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>The four-a-side format has its own classification mechanism, which is set out in the Wheelchair Handball classification rules — shared between the six-a-side and four-a-side formats.</p>
</div>

IHF Rules of the Game — Wheelchair Handball Four-a-Side 2026

<p class="reg-lead">The International Handball Federation's Rules of the Game for Wheelchair Handball Six-a-Side, in force from 1 July 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>1 July 2026</b> — adopted by the IHF Council</td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>Chapter IX, Section C of the International Handball Federation's body of regulations</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong> — supplements the indoor handball Rules of the Game</td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>How do these rules relate to indoor handball?</h2>
<p>The regulations of the International Handball Federation (IHF) form a set of numbered chapters, headed by the Statutes, with each chapter governing one area. This document is <strong>Chapter IX, Section C</strong> of that body of regulations.</p><p>The document states that the rules of wheelchair handball six-a-side <strong>follow the indoor handball rules in principle</strong>, with only the modifications made necessary by the differing abilities of the players added to them. It must therefore be read alongside the indoor handball rules, not in their place.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Key points</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Team composition</b>Each team plays with <strong>six players, including one goalkeeper</strong>.</li>
<li><b class="t">Mixed teams and the women's quota</b>Matches are played with mixed teams, and no special rule has been laid down for this; however, <strong>at least three female players</strong> must be present in the team.</li>
<li><b class="t">Delegation size</b>The delegation comprises a maximum of <strong>20 persons</strong>, with a floor of 12 and a ceiling of 16 players.</li>
<li><b class="t">Wheelchair specifications</b>Article 2 of the document specifically sets out the technical specifications of the wheelchair.</li>
<li><b class="t">Basis of the discipline</b>The text defines wheelchair handball on the basis of the spirit of fair play and for players with physical disabilities.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>For organisers and wheelchair handball teams, this document is read alongside the guidelines for staging world wheelchair handball competitions and the classification rules — three documents that together form the complete framework of the discipline.</p>
</div>

IHF Rules of the Game — Wheelchair Handball Six-a-Side 2026

<p class="reg-lead">The International Handball Federation Rules of the Game — Beach Handball, in force from 1 April 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>1 April 2026</b> — adopted by the IHF Council</td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>Chapter IX(b) of the International Handball Federation body of regulations</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong> — the free-standing rules of beach handball</td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Why does beach handball have separate rules?</h2>
<p>The regulations of the International Handball Federation (IHF) form a set of numbered chapters, headed by the Statutes, with each chapter governing one area. This document is <strong>Chapter IX(b)</strong> of that body of regulations.</p><p>Beach handball is a discipline with a different scoring logic and game structure, and it does not follow the rules of indoor handball. The IHF Regulations for Competitions were likewise confined to indoor handball in the edition of 21 August 2024, and beach competitions were moved to their own regulations.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Structural differences from indoor handball</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">A 6-metre throw instead of a 7-metre throw</b>In beach handball the penalty throw is taken from a distance of <strong>6 metres</strong>.</li>
<li><b class="t">Referee throw</b>Play is started and restarted with a <strong>referee throw</strong> (Rule 10), not a throw-off.</li>
<li><b class="t">Deciding the result</b>Rule 9 covers not only the scoring of goals but also <strong>how the winner of the game is determined</strong> — a mechanism that sits elsewhere in indoor handball.</li>
<li><b class="t">Team time-out within the text of the rules</b>Rule 2 governs playing time, the final signal, time-out and <strong>team time-out</strong> in one place.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>For federations and clubs active in beach handball, this document is the free-standing reference, and reliance on the indoor handball rules has no place in this discipline. The authority of the Beach Handball Working Group to approve the trial application of rules is also expressly stated in the Statutes of 21 March 2026.</p>
</div>

IHF Rules of the Game — Beach Handball 2026

<p class="reg-lead">Part 13 of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Regulations — Medical Rules, in force from 10 February 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>10 February 2026</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>Part 13 of the UCI Regulations — five chapters and an annex of medical guidelines</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong></td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What Part 13 governs</h2>
<p>The Regulations of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) are divided into <strong>seventeen numbered parts</strong>, which sit alongside the Constitution and the Code of Ethics. Each article carries its own three-part number — such as 13.3.066 — whose first figure is the number of that part. This document is <strong>Part 13</strong> of that body of regulations.</p><p>The Medical Rules cover everything from the Olympic Movement Medical Code to the role of each medical actor in cycling, health monitoring of riders, medical services at events, and the eligibility conditions for transgender athletes.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Key points</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Ban on carbon monoxide inhalation outside medical facilities</b>Article <strong>13.3.066</strong> — one of the newest provisions of this edition: the use of systems or equipment that enable the <strong>inhalation of carbon monoxide</strong> is prohibited both in competition and out of it. This method falls under category <strong>M1.4 of the Prohibited Methods</strong> in the Prohibited List.</li>
<li><b class="t">Concussion diagnosis and return to competition</b>Section 5 of Chapter 3 specifically governs the diagnosis of concussion and the conditions for returning to competition afterwards.</li>
<li><b class="t">Ban on injections</b>Section 4 of Chapter 3 lays down the <strong>ban on injections</strong> — one of the oldest and best-known medical rules in cycling.</li>
<li><b class="t">Medical monitoring of professional teams and women's disciplines</b>Sections 2 and 3 establish the medical monitoring regime separately for WorldTeams and ProTeams, and for the women's disciplines in road, mountain bike (cross-country), track and BMX.</li>
<li><b class="t">Medical actors</b>Chapter 2 separates the roles: the UCI Medical Commission, the UCI Doctor, the UCI Medical Delegate, national doctors, team doctors and paramedical assistants — each with its own powers and responsibilities.</li>
<li><b class="t">Eligibility of transgender athletes</b>Chapter 5 contains a self-standing set of regulations on the eligibility of transgender athletes, in twelve sections: scope of application, eligibility conditions, case-by-case assessment, investigation and monitoring of continued compliance, <strong>disciplinary proceedings</strong>, dispute resolution, confidentiality, costs, mutual recognition, limitation of liability and transitional provisions.</li>
<li><b class="t">Olympic Movement Medical Code</b>Chapter 1 incorporates the Olympic Movement Medical Code into the text of the UCI Regulations, meaning that a breach of the Code is also a breach of the UCI Regulations.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>For team doctors, this document defines the limits of their professional authority and duties within the sporting framework, and a breach carries disciplinary consequences. The carbon monoxide ban is a new and significant point: because it has been placed on the list of prohibited methods, a breach falls simultaneously under the Medical Rules and the anti-doping regulations. The chapter on transgender athletes likewise has its own procedural route for proceedings and dispute resolution.</p>
</div>

UCI Cycling Regulations Part 13 — Medical Rules 2026

<p class="reg-lead">Basketball Arbitral Tribunal (BAT) Arbitration Rules, edition of 1 January 2026.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>1 January 2026</b></td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>18 pages — arbitration procedure</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current version</strong> — supersedes the edition of 1 December 2019</td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What is the Basketball Arbitral Tribunal?</h2>
<p>The <strong>Basketball Arbitral Tribunal (BAT)</strong> is an independent arbitral body recognised by the International Basketball Federation and established for the swift and simple resolution of disputes between players, agents, coaches and clubs. Its standing is established in Chapter 10 of Book 3 of the Internal Regulations, and this document constitutes the Tribunal's own rules of procedure.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Key points<span class="reg-tag">Changes from the edition of 1 December 2019</span></h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Two procedural tracks</b>Alongside ordinary arbitration, a <strong>Payment Order Procedure</strong> is provided for clear monetary claims; a faster and less expensive track, for which guidance documents are published separately.</li>
<li><b class="t">Award based on settlement</b>Article 16.7 permits parties who reach a settlement after the arbitrator's appointment to request that the settlement be recorded in the form of a <strong>Consent Award</strong>. A separate guideline determines what information the agreement must contain.</li>
<li><b class="t">Arbitration clause</b>The validity of the Tribunal's jurisdiction rests on the arbitration clause in the contract; FIBA publishes a <strong>model arbitration clause</strong> for both tracks.</li>
<li><b class="t">Composition of the Tribunal</b>The list of the Tribunal's President and arbitrators is published and updated in a separate document, available on this site.</li>
<li><b class="t">Comparative version</b>FIBA also publishes a marked-up version showing the differences between this edition and the previous one.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>Most monetary claims between a player and a club in international basketball are heard before this Tribunal. For counsel, three matters must be examined before any step is taken: the existence and wording of the arbitration clause, the choice between arbitration and a payment order, and the procedural time limits.</p>
</div>

BAT Arbitration Rules 2026

<p class="reg-lead">The International Handball Federation's Rules of the Game for Indoor Handball, in force from 1 July 2025.</p>
<table class="reg-facts">
<tr><td>In force</td><td><b>1 July 2025</b> — approved by the IHF Council</td></tr>
<tr><td>Structure</td><td>Chapter IX, Section A of the International Handball Federation's body of regulations</td></tr>
<tr><td>Status</td><td><strong>Current edition</strong> — 18 rules together with interpretative annexes</td></tr>
</table>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>What do the Rules of the Game cover?</h2>
<p>The regulations of the International Handball Federation (IHF) form a set of numbered chapters headed by the Statutes, each chapter governing one area. This document is <strong>Chapter IX, Section A</strong> of that body.</p><p>Eighteen rules determine everything from the dimensions of the court and the playing time to fouls, sanctions and the duties of the referees, the scorekeeper and the timekeeper. As the document itself states, <strong>the text of the rules, the comments, the referees' hand signals, the supplementary explanations and the substitution area regulations are all part of the rules</strong>; the "Guidelines and Interpretations" guide the application of certain rules, and the "Guide for court and goals" is provided for the user's convenience only and is not part of the rules.</p>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec hi">
<h2>Key points of this edition</h2>
<ol class="reg-tl">
<li><b class="t">Structure of the document</b>Rules 1 to 18, followed by five parts: comments on the Rules of the Game, the substitution area regulations, the Guidelines and Interpretations, and the guide for court and goals. The referees' hand signals also appear in this same document.</li>
<li><b class="t">Restructuring under way</b>The document itself states that the Rules of the Game are <strong>being reorganised into three separate documents</strong>; the present structure is therefore provisional.</li>
<li><b class="t">Language of the document and equality</b>The text uses the masculine form for simplicity, but states expressly that the rules apply equally to women and men — with one exception: <strong>the size of the ball</strong>, which is set out separately in Rule 3.</li>
<li><b class="t">Connection with other regulations</b>The technical specifications for the ball, the goals and the flooring are found in Chapter XIII, and permitted protective equipment in its own separate regulations; video review and the electronic time-out also have independent regulations.</li>
</ol>
</div>
<div class="reg-sec">
<h2>Who this document matters to</h2>
<p>In any protest or disciplinary case arising from an on-court incident, the first question is what the Rules of the Game provide and whether the referee acted within the scope of their authority. Because the comments and the substitution area regulations are themselves part of the rules, reliance on them carries the same authority as the principal text.</p>
</div>

Notes related to the tag rules

Procedural Rules Governing the Football Tribunal