Law 5: The Referee3. Powers and duties·Page 76, 2026/27 edition

3. Powers and duties

The provision as it is printed, and everything on Ruleside that turns on it.

Outside interference
stops, suspends or abandons the match for any offences or because of outside interference e.g. if:
· an extra ball, other object or animal enters the field of play during the match, the referee must:
IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, page 76 · clause law-5-cd38a040

Verdicts that turn on it 3

Walk the tree to any of these and this clause is part of the answer.

The ball may not be changed without the referee's permissionball-in-play
Goalreferee
Stopped only if it interfered, then a dropped ballreferee

Questions that ask it 1

Points in a walk where the reader is deciding this provision.

Was the ball going into the goal, with no defender prevented from playing it?referee

The Laws of the Game are published by The IFAB and quoted here for the purpose of explaining the decisions on this site. Ruleside is not affiliated with The IFAB or FIFA. Every clause of The Referee that Ruleside cites.