| Boundary lines are critical to any sport, since defining | | | | against an opponent, that punishable by a direct free |
| the pitch or field of play is critical to the game. | | | | kick, in his own penalty area, the referee should award |
| Association football is no exception and Law 1 of the | | | | a penalty kick. |
| Laws of the Game defines the Field of Play, which | | | | For a standard soccer field, the touchlines must be |
| includes lines and markings on the field. | | | | between 90 and 120 metres long, while the goal lines |
| One of the fundamental stipulations of Law 1 is that | | | | must be between 45 and 90 metres long. Law 1 |
| the field of play must be rectangular and marked with | | | | specifies that boundary lines must be visible and all |
| lines. Since the field must be rectangular, there must be | | | | lines must be the same width (not to exceed five |
| two longer and two shorter lines. The soccer field has | | | | inches). Apart from the boundary lines being the same |
| four major boundary lines - two goal lines and two | | | | width, they should also be the same width of the |
| touchlines; the touchlines are the two longer touchlines. | | | | goalposts and crossbar by extension. This is to |
| However, other lines are critical to the field of play. | | | | facilitate proper judgement of whether a goal is |
| These include the halfway line and boundary lines for | | | | scored or not. |
| the penalty area. No soccer game can be played | | | | Symmetry is important on the soccer field, so each |
| properly without these. | | | | half must have identical measurements. Other parts of |
| Another stipulation of Law 1 is that the boundary lines | | | | the field demarcated by boundary lines include the |
| belong to the area of which they are boundaries. | | | | centre circle and corner arcs and penalty arcs. The |
| Therefore, the touchlines and goal lines are part of the | | | | Laws of the Game also prohibits unauthorised |
| field of play. A ball must wholly cross the touchline or | | | | markings and advertising (even virtual projections) on |
| goal line to be out of play. This also means that the | | | | the field of play. Law 1 also specifies that advertising |
| boundary lines for the penalty area are part of the | | | | and advertising boards should remain at least one yard |
| penalty area - including the part of the goal line that | | | | or metre from the boundaries once teams enter the |
| bounds the area. If a player commits an offence | | | | field of play. |