International Football Association Board

What International Football Association Board does

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), founded in 1886 and headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, is the sole governing body responsible for defining, maintaining, and amending the Laws of the Game in football worldwide. The organization is uniquely structured as a joint body comprising the four British football associations (The FA of England, Scottish FA, FA of Wales, Irish FA) and FIFA, with each of the four British FAs holding one vote and FIFA holding two votes for a total of six. IFAB convenes an Annual General Meeting (typically in February or March) at which Law changes are approved, and operates a structured consultation and trial process involving confederations, national associations, leagues, and competition organizers globally.

IFAB's core product is the Laws of the Game — a codified set of 17 rules published in English, French, German, and Spanish and distributed as PDFs, audio files, and a mobile application. Surrounding the core Laws are specialized protocols that govern modern match conditions: the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Protocol, Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) standards, the Additional Permanent Concussion Substitutions Protocol, time-management rules (10-second substitution exit, 5-second throw-in/goal-kick countdown, 1-minute off-field treatment, 8-second goalkeeper possession), the 'Only the Captain' guideline (compulsory from July 2027), and frameworks for temporary dismissals and return substitutes at grassroots level. IFAB also coordinates with FIFA on the FIFA Quality Programme for equipment certification.

IFAB is a non-profit governing body and does not operate as a commercial enterprise. The Laws are published free of charge, with a webshop (shop.theifab.com) providing physical documents and merchandise as the only direct commercial channel. The organization is funded through member association contributions and is structured to preserve football's universal rules rather than generate financial returns. Its value proposition rests entirely on regulatory authority and institutional legitimacy, with no commercial revenue model in the traditional sense.

Name

International Football Association Board

Legal name

International Football Association Board

Website

https://theifab.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1886

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IFAB is the Zurich-based governing body, founded in 1886 and jointly owned by the four British FAs and FIFA, that defines and amends the Laws of the Game for football worldwide. It serves every national association, confederation, league, referee, and competition organizer globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Governance

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYMPAKAFAB

International Sport Federations (IFs)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Rights Holders & Governing Bodies (Federations, Associations, Sanctioning Bodies)

SECONDARYMPAKAKAM

Sports Compliance, Governance & Integrity Services (Safeguarding, Anti-Doping, Match Integrity)

Media, Entertainment & Sports/Sports (Leagues, Teams, Events, Venues)/Sports Management & Promotion Services

Keywords

• Football governance body
• Laws of the Game
• Sports rulemaking authority
• Match officiating standards
• Football regulations

Headquarters

HQ city

Zurich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. FIFA Affiliation and Regulatory Role: IFAB is recognized by FIFA as the organization responsible for football's codified regulations. The organization operates through the four British FAs and FIFA partnership structure.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IFAB is the international governing body that creates, maintains, and evolves the Laws of the Game for association football worldwide. It defines 17 laws and a set of specialized protocols (including VAR, concussion substitutions, time-wasting countermeasures) approved at Annual General Meetings, and publishes them through its official website, mobile app, and webshop in English, French, German, and Spanish. IFAB also oversees the FIFA Quality Programme for equipment certification and manages simplified rules and audio versions for accessibility.

Product overview

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) maintains and publishes the Laws of the Game—the unified code of football rules applied worldwide. The core offering is the Laws of the Game rulebook, supported by specialized protocols that address modern football challenges. These include the VAR Protocol for video-assisted refereeing decisions, the Time-Limited Substitution Protocol (10-second exit rule), the Off-Field Treatment and Assessment Protocol (1-minute sidelined requirement), the Throw-In and Goal-Kick Countdown Protocol (5-second rule), and the 'Only the Captain' Guidelines. Additional frameworks cover temporary dismissals (sin bins), return substitutes, and concussion substitution protocols. IFAB also oversees the FIFA Quality Programme for equipment certification and publishes simplified rules and audio versions for accessibility. All official documentation is available in English, French, German, and Spanish as downloadable PDFs, audio files, and web content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Laws of the Game The official codified regulations of football worldwide, covering 17 laws including rules for players, referees, gameplay, and equipment. Used by every football association, confederation, competition, referee, player, and coach globally.
• FIFA Quality Programme Certification programme that sets criteria for products, playing surfaces, and technologies used in football, offered at three tiers (FIFA Basic, FIFA Quality, FIFA Quality Pro). Used by manufacturers of football equipment and technology providers seeking certification to sell into sanctioned football competitions.
• Football Rules - Simplified Laws of the Game Simplified version of the Laws of the Game written for young people, potential referees, players, coaches, spectators and media to promote greater understanding of football rules.
• Laws of the Game Documents Downloadable PDF versions of the Laws of the Game available in multiple languages and in single-page or double-page formats, distributed through the IFAB website.
• Audio Files of Laws of the Game Audio recordings of the Laws of the Game accessible through the IFAB website for auditory learning, training, and education purposes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Universal rule consistency from FIFA World Cup to village football
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• Football Association (England)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2026Leading implementation of goalkeeper injury rule trials in English football, working with Premier League, English Football League, National League, and Women's Super League. Consultations with Pro Ref chief refereeing officer Howard Webb.
• Premier LeaguemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2026Partnering with English football authorities to trial new goalkeeper injury rule requiring outfield player removal for one minute during goalkeeper treatment, aiming to eliminate tactical time-wasting.
• English Football LeaguemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2026Participating in goalkeeper tactical timeout elimination trial alongside Premier League, National League, and Women's Super League.
• Women's Super LeaguemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2026Participating in goalkeeper tactical timeout elimination trial alongside Premier League, English Football League, and National League.
• National League (England)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2026Participating in goalkeeper tactical timeout elimination trial alongside Premier League, English Football League, and Women's Super League.
• Pro Ref (Professional Referees Organisation)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 July 2026Chief refereeing officer Howard Webb leading discussions on goalkeeper injury rule trials with English football authorities.
• FIFAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIFA recognizes IFAB as the organization responsible for football's codified regulations worldwide. IFAB is composed of the four British FAs and FIFA, and changes to the Laws may only be approved at the Annual General Meeting. FIFA operates the FIFA Quality Programme in coordination with IFAB standards.
• English Football Association (The FA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the four British FAs that compose IFAB, alongside Scottish FA, Welsh FA, and Northern Irish FA. Together these four associations hold equal voting rights with FIFA in IFAB governance.
• Scottish Football AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the four British FAs that compose IFAB, alongside English FA, Welsh FA, and Northern Irish FA. Together these four associations hold equal voting rights with FIFA in IFAB governance.
• Welsh Football AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the four British FAs that compose IFAB, alongside English FA, Scottish FA, and Northern Irish FA. Together these four associations hold equal voting rights with FIFA in IFAB governance.
• Northern Ireland Football AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of the four British FAs that compose IFAB, alongside English FA, Scottish FA, and Welsh FA. Together these four associations hold equal voting rights with FIFA in IFAB governance.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF): Global governing body of ice hockey responsible for its playing rules. IIHF's rule-making and competition oversight functions mirror IFAB's responsibilities in football.
• International Tennis Federation (ITF): Worldwide governing body of tennis that defines the Rules of Tennis. ITF is a direct analog to IFAB as an international federation maintaining universal playing laws.
• International Cricket Council: Global governing body of cricket that defines the Laws of Cricket. ICC's role as custodian of cricket's playing rules is structurally analogous to IFAB's role in football.
• FIFA: Global governing body of football and one of IFAB's six voting members. FIFA both recognizes IFAB's authority and depends on its Laws of the Game, making it the closest direct peer in international sports rule-making.
• World Rugby: International federation responsible for the Laws of Rugby Union. As a parallel sport-specific rule-making body, World Rugby is directly comparable to IFAB in mandate, structure, and global regulatory authority.
• World Aquatics (formerly FINA): International federation governing aquatic sports and setting their competition rules. As an international sport federation with rule-making authority, it is structurally comparable to IFAB.
• World Athletics: International federation governing track and field athletics, including the rules of competition. World Athletics' role as the global custodian of athletics rules parallels IFAB's mandate over football's Laws of the Game.
• International Basketball Federation (FIBA): International federation that sets the Official Basketball Rules applied worldwide. FIBA is comparable to IFAB as a centralized global rule-setter for its sport across all levels of play.

Broad incumbents

• The Football Association (England): One of IFAB's four founding British FAs and a voting member. The FA is comparable to IFAB as a national governing body with rule-application authority and direct influence on the Laws of the Game.
• UEFA: European football confederation and a major consumer of IFAB's Laws. While not a direct rule-making peer, UEFA is closely comparable as a continental governing body operating within IFAB's legal framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/theifab
• Facebookfacebook.com/theifab
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-ifab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Football Association Board