Law 3 – The Players

1. Number of players

A match is played by two teams, each with a maximum of five players, one of whom must be the goalkeeper. A match may not start or resume if either team has fewer than three players.

If a team has fewer than three players because one or more players has deliberately left the pitch, the referees are not obliged to stop play and the advantage may be played, but the match must not resume after the ball has gone out of play if a team does not have the minimum number of three players.

If the competition rules state that all players and substitutes must be named before kick-off and a team starts a match with fewer than five players, only the players and substitutes named on the team list may take part in the match upon their arrival.

2. Number of substitutions and substitutes

An unlimited number of substitutions may be made during a match.

Official competitions

A maximum of nine substitutes may be used in a match played in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA, confederations or national football associations. Competition rules must state how many substitutes may be named.

Other matches

In unofficial national “A” team matches, a maximum of ten substitutes may be used.

In all other matches, a greater number of substitutes may be named and used, provided that:

• the teams concerned reach agreement on a maximum number;
• the referees are informed before the match.

If the referees are not informed, or if no agreement is reached before the match, no more than ten substitutes are allowed.

3. Submission of list of players and substitutes

In all matches, the names of the players and substitutes must be given to the referees prior to the start of the match, whether they are present or not. Any player or substitute whose name is not given to the referees at this time may not take part in the match.

4. Substitution procedure

A substitution may be made at any time, whether the ball is in play or not, except during a timeout. To replace a player with a substitute, the following applies:

• The player being substituted leaves the pitch via their own team’s substitution zone, except as provided for in the Futsal Laws of the Game.
• The player being substituted does not need to obtain either of the referees’ permission to leave the pitch.
• The referees do not need to authorise the substitute to enter the pitch.
• The substitute only enters the pitch after the player being replaced has left.
• The substitute enters the pitch via their own team’s substitution zone.
• The substitution is completed when a substitute fully enters the pitch via their own team’s substitution zone after handing the bib to the player being replaced, unless the latter player has had to leave the pitch via another zone for any reason provided for in the Futsal Laws of the Game, in which case the substitute hands the bib to the third referee.
• From that moment, the substitute becomes a player and the player who has been replaced becomes a substitute.
• Permission to proceed with a substitution may be refused under certain circumstances, e.g. if the substitute’s equipment is not in order.
• A substitute who has not completed the substitution procedure cannot restart play by taking a kick-in, penalty kick, free kick, corner kick or goal clearance, or by receiving a dropped ball.
• The player replaced may take further part in the match.
• All substitutes are subject to the authority and jurisdiction of the referees, whether called upon to play or not.

5. Warming up

A maximum of five substitutes per team are allowed to warm up at the same time.

6. Changing the goalkeeper

• Any of the substitutes may change places with the goalkeeper without informing the referees or waiting for a stoppage in the match.
• Any player may change places with the goalkeeper; however, this player must do so during a stoppage in the match and must inform the referees before the change is made.
• A player or substitute replacing the goalkeeper must wear a goalkeeper’s shirt with the player or substitute’s own number on the back. Competition rules may also stipulate that a player acting as a flying goalkeeper must wear exactly the same colour as the main goalkeeper’s shirt.

7. Offences and sanctions

If a substitute enters the pitch before the player being replaced has left or if, during a substitution, a substitute enters the pitch from a place other than their own team’s substitution zone:

• the referees stop play (although not immediately if they can apply the advantage);
• the referees caution the substitute for entering the pitch in contravention of the substitution procedure and order the substitute to leave the pitch.

If the referees have stopped play, it is restarted with an indirect free kick to the opposing team. If this substitute or their team also commits another offence or interferes with play, play is restarted in accordance with the section dedicated to Law 3 within the Interpretation and Recommendations part of the Practical Guidelines for Futsal Referees and Other Match Officials.

If, during a substitution, the player being replaced leaves the pitch via a place other than their team’s substitution zone for reasons not provided for in the Futsal Laws of the Game, the referees stop play (although not immediately if they can apply the advantage) and caution the player for leaving the pitch in contravention of the substitution procedure.

If the referees have stopped play, it is restarted with an indirect free kick to the opposing team.

For any other offences:

• the players concerned are cautioned;
• the match is restarted with an indirect free kick to the opposing team.

In special cases, play is restarted in accordance with the section dedicated to Law 3 within the Interpretation and Recommendations part of the Practical Guidelines for Futsal Referees and Other Match Officials.

8. Players and substitutes sent off

A player who is sent off:

• before submission of the team list cannot be named on the team list in any capacity;
• after being named on the team list and before kick-off may be replaced by a named substitute, who cannot be replaced.

A named substitute who is sent off, whether before or after kick-off, may not be replaced.

A substitute may replace a player who is sent off after kick-off and enter the pitch after two minutes of playing time have elapsed following the sending-off (i.e. after their team has served a two-minute numerical reduction), provided that the substitute has the authorisation of the timekeeper or the third referee, unless a goal is scored before the two minutes have elapsed, in which case the following conditions apply:

• If there are five players against four or four against three and the team with the greater number of players scores a goal, the team with fewer players may be increased by one player.
• If both teams are playing with three or four players and a goal is scored, neither team is increased until it has served its respective two-minute numerical reduction.
• If there are five players playing against three and the team with five players scores a goal, the team with three players may be increased by one player only.
• If the team with fewer players scores a goal, the game continues without any change in the number of players until the two minutes have elapsed, unless the team with the greater number of players subsequently scores a goal in the interim.

9. Extra persons on the pitch

The coach and other officials named on the team list are team officials. Anyone not named on the team list as a player, substitute or team official is considered an outside agent.

If a team official, substitute (except as part of the substitution procedure), sent-off player or outside agent enters the pitch, the referees must:

• only stop play if there is interference with play;
• have the person removed when play stops;
• take appropriate disciplinary action.

If play is stopped and the interference was by:

• a team official, substitute or sent-off player, play restarts with a direct free kick or penalty kick and a foul is accumulated, except when a penalty kick is awarded;
• an outside agent, play restarts with a dropped ball.

The referees must report the incident to the appropriate authorities.

10. Goal scored with an extra person on the pitch

If the ball is going into the goal and the interference does not prevent a defending-team player from playing the ball, the goal is awarded if the ball enters the goal (even if contact was made with the ball) unless the interference was by the attacking team.

If, after a goal is scored and play has restarted, the referees realise that an extra person was on the pitch when the goal was scored, the goal cannot be disallowed.

If the extra person is still on the pitch, the referees must:

• stop play;
• have the extra person removed;
• restart with a dropped ball or free kick as appropriate.

The referees must report the incident to the appropriate authorities.

If, after a goal is scored and before play restarts, the referees realise that an extra person was on the pitch when the goal was scored:

• The referees must disallow the goal if the extra person was:
  • a player, substitute, sent-off player or official of the team that scored the goal and that person interfered with play; play is restarted with a direct free kick from the position of the extra person or a penalty kick if the interference was in the penalty area, and a foul is accumulated, except when a penalty kick is awarded;
  • an outside agent who interfered with play by diverting the ball into the goal or preventing a defending-team player from playing the ball; play is restarted with a dropped ball.
• The referees must allow the goal if the extra person was:
  • a player, substitute, sent-off player or team official of the team that conceded the goal;
  • an outside agent who did not interfere with play.

In all cases, the referees must have the extra person removed from the pitch.

11. Improper re-entry

If a player who requires one of the referees’ permission to re-enter the pitch does so without this permission, the referees must:

• stop play (not immediately if the player does not interfere with play or a match official or if the advantage can be applied);
• caution the player for entering the pitch without permission.

If the referees stop play, it must be restarted:

• with a direct free kick from the position of the interference or a penalty kick if the interference was in the penalty area, and a foul is accumulated, except when a penalty kick is awarded;
• with an indirect free kick if there was no interference.

A player who crosses a boundary line as part of a playing movement does not commit an offence.

12. Team captain

Each team must have a captain who wears an identifying armband. The team captain has no special status or privileges but has a degree of responsibility for the behaviour of the team.