Team selection
An Olympic team roster consists of 22 players, of which 11 participate in the match at a given time. Seven players can be made available as substitutes, while the remaining four are alternates. The Olympic men’s competition is considered a U-23 tournament, meaning players must be born on or after January 1, 1997, however each team is allowed three exceptions to that rule. There are no player age restrictions in the women’s tournament.
Game length
A standard match consists of two halves of 45 minutes each. Each half runs continuously, meaning that the clock is not stopped when the ball is out of play. There is a 15-minute "half-time" break between halves. The end of the match is known as full-time.
Stoppage Time
Although there is a visible running clock, it's the referee who is the official timekeeper for the match. He/she may make allowances for time lost through substitutions, delays of play due to injury, or other stoppages. This added time is commonly referred to as stoppage time. Toward the end of each half, the referee signals to an official on the sideline how many minutes of stoppage time he/she intends to add. That official then informs the players and spectators by holding up a board showing this number. The referee alone whistles the end of stoppage time.
Extra Time
In the group stage, games may end in a draw. In the knockout stage, however, a match tied at the end of regulation time goes into extra time, which consists of two 15-minute periods. There is no "sudden death" in soccer, either in the form of a "golden goal" (first goal) or "silver goal" (leader at the end of the first overtime period).
Penalty Shootout
If the score is still tied after extra time, the match goes to a penalty shootout. A coin toss decides which team shoots first. Only the kicker and opposing goalkeeper may stand in the penalty box, creating a one-on-one situation. The other players must remain in the center circle. Each kick is taken in the manner of a penalty kick, i.e. from the penalty mark.
Teams take turns to kick from the penalty mark in an attempt to score, until each has taken five kicks. If one team gains an insurmountable lead (example: 4-2 lead with one kick left), the shootout ends. If the two teams are still tied after five kicks, sudden death rounds ensue, until one team scores and the other team does not.
SEE MORE: Rio 2016: Neymar PK wins Brazil's first Olympic soccer gold
Substitutions
Three substitutes are allowed during the course of a game. To replace a player with a substitute, the following conditions must be observed:
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A substitute only enters the field of play at the halfway line and during a stoppage in the match
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A substitution is completed when the player being replaced has left the field of play, and a substitute enters the field of play
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A player who has been replaced takes no further part in the match
Goalkeeper substitutions
Any of the other players may change places with the goalkeeper, provided that:
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The referee is informed before the change is made
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The change is made during a stoppage in the match
Extra Time
A fourth substitution will be given to each team if a game goes into extra time.
Free Kicks
Free kicks are awarded for intentional offenses, such as dangerous play, charging when the ball is not within playing distance, or intentionally obstructing an opponent while not attempting to play the ball. Free kicks are either direct or indirect. For both direct and indirect free kicks, the ball must be stationary when the kick is taken and the kicker does not touch the ball a second time until it has touched another player (on either team).
Direct
The direct free kick gives the player taking the kick the opportunity to score a goal "directly" off the free kick being awarded. A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offenses in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:
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Kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
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Trips or attempts to trip an opponent
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Jumps at an opponent
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Charges an opponent
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Strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
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Pushes an opponent
A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following offenses:
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Tackles an opponent to gain possession of the ball, making contact with the opponent before touching the ball
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Holds an opponent
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Spits at an opponent
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Handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
Indirect
In order for a goal to be scored off an indirect free kick, the ball must first touch another player other than the player taking the kick before it enters the goal. An indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player, in the opinion of the referee:
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Plays in a dangerous manner
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Impedes the progress of an opponent
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Prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands
An indirect free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a goalkeeper, inside his own penalty area, commits any of the following four offenses:
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Takes more than six seconds while controlling the ball with his hands before releasing it from his possession
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Touches the ball again with his hands after it has been released from his possession and has not touched any other player
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Touches the ball with his hands after it has been deliberately kicked to him by a teammate
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Touches the ball with his hands after he has received it directly from a throw-in taken by a teammate
Penalty Kicks
Penalty kicks are awarded when "direct kick" infractions occur within the penalty area. The ball is placed on the 11-meter mark and a player has a free shot against the goalkeeper with all other players located outside of the penalty area, at least 10 yards from the penalty mark (located outside of the arc located on the top of the box). The defending goalkeeper remains on his/her goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked. Once the ball moves forward, it is considered in play and cannot be touched by the kicker again until touched by another player (on either side). This prevents the shooter from drawing the keeper off of his line with a quick dribble before shooting the ball towards the net.
Offside
A player is offside when positioned in the opponents' half of the field in front of the ball and there are less than two defenders between him/her and the opponents' goal line. If the ball is touched by a teammate and the player is in an offside position -- and by doing so gains an advantage or hinders an opponent -- the player is penalized for an offside offence and the opposing team is awarded an indirect free kick from the spot where the infraction occurred. Therefore, it is not an infraction to be in an offside position, but if a player is in active play and gains an advantage by being in an offside position, an infraction has occurred. An offside offence is not called if the player receives the ball from a throw-in, a goal kick or a corner kick.
Handball
Except for throw-ins, only goalkeepers may play the ball with their hands or arms, and they may do so only within their own penalty areas. In order to draw a handball foul, a player must deliberately handle the ball. Ball handling is very much a judgment call, so the interpretation will vary from incident to incident, and from referee to referee. The essence of soccer is that the hands and arms not be deliberately used to play the ball. Therefore, some leeway is usually given as long as the player seems to be making a fair attempt to avoid using the hands and arms to play the ball. If the ball is inadvertently handled or touched by a player and no obvious advantage is gained, the referee can choose to ignore the occurrence and let play continue. If it is determined by the referee that deliberate ball handling has occurred, or a player has simply mishandled the ball resulting in an advantageous situation (for example, the ball deflects off a player's leg and unintentionally hits the hand, dropping right at the feet), play is stopped and the opposing team is awarded a direct free kick from the spot of the infraction. If it is the judgment of the referee that the deliberate handling of the ball denies the opposing team a legitimate scoring chance, a red or yellow card may be given.
Restarts
Throw-in
A throw-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball passes over the touch line (sideline), either on the ground or in the air. The throw-in is taken from the point where it crossed the touch line. To properly execute a throw-in, the player faces the field of play with a part of each foot either on the touch line or on the ground outside the touch line, and uses both hands to deliver the ball from behind and over his/her head. The thrower may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. The ball is in play immediately when it enters the field of play.
Corner kick
If the defending team touches the ball last before it crosses the goal line and goes out of bounds, the attacking team is awarded a kick that is not defended. The attacking team takes the corner kick from inside a small arc painted at either corner of the playing field, corresponding to whichever side of the goal the ball went out of bounds.
Goal kick
If the attacking team touches the ball last before it crosses the goal line out of bounds, the defending team is awarded a goal kick from the goal area, to be taking by a player or goalie.
Cards
Yellow
A player receives a yellow card and is "cautioned" for committing any of the following offenses:
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Unsportsmanlike behavior
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Dissent by word or action
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Persistent infringing on the rules of the game
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Delaying the restart of play
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Failing to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick
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Entering or re-entering the game without the referee's permission
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Deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee's permission
Red
A player receives a red card and is ejected from the game if he or she commits any of the following offenses:
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Two yellow-card infractions
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Serious foul play
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Violent conduct
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Spits at an opponent or any other person
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Denies the opposing team a goal or an obvious scoring opportunity by handling the ball in a deliberate manner (does not apply to goalkeeper)
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Uses offensive, insulting or abusive language
A player who has been issued a red card during the game may not be replaced. The team must play at a player disadvantage for the remainder of the match.
VAR
The Tokyo Games will be the first Olympics to include video assistant refereeing (VAR). In cases of goals, penalty decisions, red card incidents, and mistaken identity, the match referee can consult with the VAR who has access to video replay. During a VAR review, the match pauses until a decision is made by the match referee, who can choose to view the incident personally or accept the advice of the VAR to come to a decision.
