The 2016-17 IFAB Laws of the Game are now available for download.  If you want to skip the summary and go straight to the download, below

The Only Thing That’s Changed Is Everything

Law 3. Was: The Number of Players.  Now: The Players

Law 6, Was: The Assistant Referee.  Now: The Other Match Officials

Law 10.  Was: The Method of Scoring.  Now: Determining The Outcome of a Match

In total, there are 57 changes and clarifications to the Laws.  These range in importance from very significant (changes to misconduct application for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity) to relatively minor (that a match shall not continue if a team is reduced to fewer than 7 players is now officially part of the Laws rather than a suggestion of the IFAB).

Among the more interesting changes not previously mentioned:

• Interference by a substitute or team official will result in a direct FK for the opponents (Law 03)

• Ball must “clearly move” to be in play for all kicked restarts (Law 08)

• Attempted violent conduct shall be punished with a send-off, even if no contact occurred (Law 12)

• Striking an opponent in the face/head when not challenging for the ball shall be punished with a send-off (Law 12)

• Impeding with contact results in a  Direct Free Kick (Law 12)