The International Football Association Board (The IFAB) makes the rules of football. It is the only body authorised to decide and agree changes to the Laws of the Game. Passing a motion requires a three-quarters majority, and changes can be introduced only at the Annual General Meeting (AGM).
What The IFAB is and how it differs from FIFA
The IFAB serves world football as the independent guardian of the Laws of the Game. FIFA is the governing body responsible for football throughout the world, while The IFAB is responsible for the Laws used worldwide.
The first “universal” football Laws were drawn up in England in 1863. The IFAB was founded in 1886 by The FA, the Scottish FA, the FA of Wales and the Irish FA. FIFA joined in 1913, and in January 2014 The IFAB was registered as an independent association with its own administration, headquarters and statutes.
Who sits on The IFAB
Here is who sits on The IFAB.
| Member | Votes |
|---|---|
| The FA (England) | One |
| Scottish FA | One |
| FA of Wales | One |
| Irish FA (Northern Ireland) | One |
| FIFA, covering the remaining 207 national associations | Four |
The membership is limited to the four British football associations and FIFA. The Premier League is not a member. Passing a motion requires a three-quarters majority.
How changes are proposed, decided and brought into force
A proposed change does not move forward automatically. Any football association can send a proposal or recommendation in writing to the Secretary of The IFAB no later than 1 October, after which The IFAB’s technical experts consider it.
The Board of Directors is The IFAB’s executive body. It is made up of the General Secretaries of the four British associations and the FIFA Secretary General. It assesses proposed changes and decides whether they should be presented at the AGM; it can recommend that the AGM accept, reject, discuss or test a potential change; it may mandate further consultation with the advisory panels and/or approve experiments and/or pilot studies; and it appoints the Secretary of The IFAB.
The Football and Technical Advisory Panels support the Technical Subcommittee in the decision-making process. The Football Advisory Panel consists of former players, former and current coaches, representatives of the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro), European Football Clubs (EFC) and the World Leagues Association (WLA), and technical directors and experts from the confederations.
The AGM is normally held every February or March in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland in rotation, and in FIFA World Cup years in other locations decided by FIFA.
Once approved at the AGM, changes come into force on 1 July, unless specified and communicated otherwise. A competition that started before 1 July may delay the changes until it ends, or apply them as soon as they have been officially announced and circulated.
The formal route for changing the Laws
Here is the formal route for changing the Laws.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Proposal | Any football association can send a proposal or recommendation in writing to the Secretary of The IFAB, no later than 1 October |
| Expert review | The IFAB's technical experts consider it, and it may then be presented to the Annual Business Meeting (ABM) |
| Next step | It may be submitted for approval at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), for experimentation, or for further deliberation by the advisory panels and other expert bodies |
| Decision | Changes to the Laws can only be introduced at the AGM |
| Coming into force | 1 July, unless specified and communicated otherwise |
| A competition that started before 1 July | It may delay the changes until the end of the competition, or implement them as soon as they have been officially announced and circulated |
The principles for Law changes and the Premier League’s place
Any change must preserve or enhance the fairness of football and the integrity of each match, including respect for referees and their decisions. As far as possible, a change must be inclusive and applicable to every match, from children playing in a small village to the FIFA World Cup final.
The Laws must help football embrace technology when it benefits the game and protect the game where technology is a threat. Overall, a change should focus on improving player behaviour, increasing fairness and respect, reducing playing time interruptions and increasing the attractiveness of the game.
The same Laws apply in every match in every confederation, country, town and village. Apart from modifications permitted by The IFAB, they must not be modified or changed except with The IFAB’s permission. The Laws are published in English, French, German and Spanish; if wording differs, the English text is authoritative, and if metric and imperial units differ, the metric units are authoritative.
Premier League clubs agree, as part of league membership, to be bound by and comply with the Laws of the Game, any protocols issued by IFAB, The Football Association Rules, the League’s Articles, the League’s own Rules, and the statutes and regulations of FIFA and UEFA, among others. The Laws and the League’s own Rules are separate rulebooks.
One of the Premier League’s objects is to co-operate with The Football Association and The IFAB in all matters relating to international competitions or the laws of the game. The league introduced its Game Improvement Advisory Group (GIAG) in 2023, and that group also discusses potential law changes from IFAB, informing the league’s stance on proposed amendments.
FAQ
What is The IFAB?
The IFAB is the body responsible for the Laws of the Game worldwide. It is the independent guardian of those Laws and the only body authorised to decide and agree changes to them.
Who decides whether a Law change passes?
The decision sits within The IFAB’s voting system. A motion needs a three-quarters majority to pass.
When do new football rules come into force?
Once approved at the AGM, changes come into force on 1 July, unless specified and communicated otherwise.
Do competitions already under way have to switch immediately?
No automatic switch is required for a competition that started before 1 July. It may delay the changes until the competition ends, or apply them as soon as they have been officially announced and circulated.