Changes to the rules of football.

With the Conference season starting this afternoon, supporters may notice some slight changes in certain rules.

The FA has clarified what happens in certain circumstances including when a substitute enters the field of play without permission.

Another change is that a referee can now take disciplinary sanctions after the final whistle is blown but when a player is still on the field of play. (He could before, in the form of reporting a misconduct. Now a red or yellow card can be shown.)

Any tackle from any position, as opposed to from behind, which endanger the safety of an opponent, must be sanctioned as serious foul play.

The interpretation of the offside rule has also been slightly changed. Whereas in the past any part of the body could be offside, from now on the arms are not taken into account. The reasoning being that football is played with the head, body and feet.

Another change is that all opponents must stand no less than two metres from the point at which a throw-in is taken.

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