A match is played between two teams.
Each team is made up of not more than eleven players, one of whom must be the goal keeper.
A match may not start if either team consists of fewer than seven players.
A maximum of three substitutes may be used in official matches under the auspices of FIFA or national associations.
In other matches, substitutes may be used provided that the teams concerned agree on a maximum number and the referee is informed before the match starts. If the referee is not informed or the teams fail to agree on the number, no more than three substitutes is allowed.
In all matches, the names of the substitutes must be given to the referee prior to the start of the match. Substitutes whose names have not been passed to the referee do not take part in the match.
The referee must be informed before it is made.
The substitute may not enter the field of play until the player he is replacing has left.
The substitute must receive a signal from the referee before he enters the field of play.
The substitute must enter the field at the halfway line, during a stoppage in the game.
When a player has been substituted he does not take any further part in the game.
A substitute, whether he plays or not, is under the authority and jurisdiction of the referee.
The substitution is completed when the substitute enters the field of play. (He becomes a player and the player he is replacing ceases to be a player.)
When a substitute enters the field of play without permission, the referee shall stop play. He shall caution the player and restart the game with an indirect free kick to the opposing team at the place where the ball was when play was stopped. If the ball was inside the goal area when play was stopped, and the kick is being taken by the defending team, the kick can be taken from any point inside the goal area.
Any player may change places with the goal keeper provided:
For an infringement of this part of Law 3, play is allowed to continue but whenever the ball goes out of play, both players are cautioned.
Note: If the player who takes over as goal keeper without informing the referee, picks up the ball with his hand (in his own penalty area), a penalty kick would not be awarded. Play would be allowed to continue until the ball goes out of play, when both players would be cautioned.
Substitutes must enter the field of play at the centre (half-way) line, after the game has been stopped and they have received a signal from the referee.
A player can be ordered from the field before the game begins i.e. during a warm up. When this happens, he can be replaced by a named substitute.
Any player can change places with the goal keeper but this must be done during a stoppage in play and the referee must be informed.
When a player changes places with a goal keeper without informing the referee and then picks up the ball inside his own penalty area, the referee would not award a penalty kick. He would, however, caution the player and the goal keeper (with whom he has changed positions) when the ball goes out of play.
If a substitute enters the field of play without the referee's permission, the game should be stopped and the substitute cautioned.
If a team is reduced, for whatever reason, to six or less players, it is generally accepted that the game should not continue.
A game cannot begin without each team having a goal keeper.
A substitution is properly completed when the player being replaced has left the field of play and the substitute enters the field.
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