Qualities and measurements
The ball is:
- Spherical
- Made of leather or other suitable material
- Of a circumference of not more than 70 cm (28 ins) and not less than 68 cm (27 ins)
- Of a pressure equal to 0.6 – 1.1 atmosphere (600 – 1,100 g/cm2) at sea level (8.5 lbs/sq in – 15.6 lbs/sq in)
Replacement of a defective ball
If the ball bursts or becomes defective during the course of a match:
- The match is stopped
- The match is restarted by dropping the replacement ball at the place where the original ball became defective, unless play was stopped inside the goal area, in which case the referee drops the replacement ball on the goal area line parallel to the goal line at the point nearest to where the original ball was located when play was stopped
If the ball bursts or becomes defective during a penalty kick or during kicks from the penalty mark as it moves forward and before it touches any player or the crossbar or goalposts:
- the penalty kick is retaken
If the ball bursts or becomes defective whilst not in play at a kick-off, goal kick, corner kick, free kick, penalty kick or throw-in:
- the match is restarted accordingly
The ball may not be changed during the match without the authority of the referee.
Decisions of the International F.A. Board
Decision 1
In addition to the requirements of Law 2, acceptance of a ball for use in matches played in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA or the confederations is conditional upon the ball bearing one of the following:
- the official “FIFA APPROVED” logo
- the official “FIFA INSPECTED” logo
- the “INTERNATIONAL MATCHBALL STANDARD” logo



Such a logo on a ball indicates that it has been tested officially and found to be in compliance with specific technical requirements, different for each logo and additional to the minimum specifications stipulated in Law 2. The list of the additional requirements specific to each of the respective logos must be approved by the International F.A. Board. The institutes conducting the tests are subject to the approval of FIFA.
Member association competitions may also require the use of balls bearing any one of these three logos.
Decision 2
In matches played in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA, the confederations or the member associations, no form of commercial advertising on the ball is permitted, except for the emblem of the competition, the competition organiser and the authorised trademark of the manufacturer. The competition regulations may restrict the size and number of such markings.