Law 1: The Field of Play Explained
Law 1 covers the dimensions and markings of the football pitch, including the goal area, penalty area, centre circle, and corner arc. It sets out the minimum and maximum measurements for pitches at all levels of the game.
Key Points
- 1The pitch must be rectangular and marked with lines.
- 2Touch lines must be 90–120m long; goal lines must be 45–90m wide.
- 3The penalty area extends 16.5m from each goalpost and 16.5m into the pitch.
- 4The goal area (6-yard box) extends 5.5m from each post and 5.5m into the pitch.
- 5The centre circle has a radius of 9.15m.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the minimum and maximum pitch dimensions in football?
The touch lines (length) must be between 90 and 120 metres. The goal lines (width) must be between 45 and 90 metres. For international matches, the ranges are narrower: 100–110m long and 64–75m wide.
What is the size of the penalty area?
The penalty area extends 16.5 metres from each goalpost and 16.5 metres into the field of play. The penalty spot is 11 metres from the goal line, centred between the posts.
Can a pitch be square?
No. The Laws require the pitch to be rectangular, meaning the touch lines must be longer than the goal lines. A square pitch would violate Law 1.
What happens if a line marking is unclear during a match?
The referee may stop play to allow the lines to be redrawn if it is safe and practical to do so. If a line cannot be redrawn, the referee uses judgement based on the existing markings for decisions.
Got a question about The Field of Play?
RefereeGPT is trained on the full IFAB Laws of the Game and can answer any question about Law 1. Ask your first question for free.