The field of play is the area bounded by the goal lines and touchlines. FIFA’s recommended field of play dimensions are 105 metres x 68 metres.
The field of play must be rectangular and marked with continuous lines. These lines belong to the areas of which they are boundaries. Its touchlines shall be parallel to the orientation of the stadium, and only the lines indicated in Law 1 of the Laws of the Game are to be marked on the field of play.
The field of play shall be level and without undulation.
The grassed area includes the field of play but extends beyond its boundaries to include the additional areas covered by turf, such as player warm-up areas and assistant referee positions.
This area should be sufficient to facilitate player safety by (i) allowing sufficient space in front of the advertising boards and reducing the risk of collision, and (ii) avoiding a change in surface immediately beyond the touchline/goal line which could affect a player’s footing.
The dimensions of the grassed area should be in conjunction with the design of the stands, taking account of sightlines and the position of advertising boards (see Sub-Section 2.3.3). As a benchmark, FIFA recommends that at least two metres of level surface (ideally the same surface type as the field of play) be provided beyond each touchline and goal line. For larger stadiums, FIFA recommends that a total distance of five metres beyond each goal line and four metres beyond each touchline be provided before the placement of perimeter advertising boards. For smaller stadiums, FIFA recommends a total distance of four metres behind each goal line and three metres beyond each touchline before the placement of perimeter advertising boards. Any incline in surface beyond two metres should be a maximum of 5°.
The pitch area includes the field of play and the extended grassed area, and then extends up to the demarcation of the spectator viewing areas or other boundary.
The pitch area then incorporates a further area beyond the grassed area and advertising boards to allow for the positioning of security staff and photographers, amongst others. The pitch area should ideally be unobstructed by any permanent installations, walkways, staircases or emergency exits from the stands so that free movement around the field of play is possible. All surfaces within the pitch area should be of a non-slip material.
A cross-section of the boundary of the pitch area with spectator stands can be found in Sub-Section 2.3.3. Major tournaments such as the FIFA World Cup finals can require larger pitch area dimensions.
The players’ tunnel is the assembly point for the players and the referees before they enter the pitch area and usually provides access to the pitch area at the halfway line. Depending on local needs, a fireproof telescopic tunnel can be deployed which can be extended to provide protection from missiles and other physical contact and intimidation from the spectators immediately adjacent to the tunnel area. This type of tunnel can then be folded back once the players and match officials have entered or left the field of play so as not to interfere with spectator sightlines.
The players’ tunnel area leading to the field of play should ideally be large enough to line up 22 players, five match officials and any other officials. Consideration should also be given to holding larger tournaments or events where space will be required for additional personnel such as player or official escorts and flagbearers.
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The minimum recommended dimensions to allow all required personnel to enter and leave the pitch area are 4.5 metres (width) and 2.4 metres (height). The length of the players’ tunnel area may vary between stadiums but should extend far enough to allow for the safe passage of all participants to the field of play (see above).
Any doors or mechanism leading to/from the tunnel area shall be wide enough to allow the people within the tunnel area to enter and exit with ease.
Within the tunnel area itself and on the route to the pitch area and dressing rooms, protective, non-slip flooring should be in place to ensure the safety of the players and match officials.
Some tournaments have their own specific requirements for the positioning of advertising boards, including the FIFA World Cup finals.
Pitch sprinklers should not be planned or positioned behind any advertising boards.
As described in Sub-Section 5.3.2, the advertising boards must not prevent the movement of spectators onto the field of play in case of emergency evacuation.
There are primarily two types of advertising boards used around the pitch: static and electronic.
Static advertising boards carry the same image or corporate brand for the duration of the match.
Advances in digital broadcasting technology and augmented reality now allow LED advertising hoardings to be virtually modified by broadcasters, presenting the adverts in a different language in different regions. The content of the LED boards in the stadium appears the same but can be changed virtually for the live broadcast.
The height of the LED boards should be considered when selecting the system that will be used. The overall height of the boards and the distance from the first row of seats needs to be checked to ensure that sightlines to the field of play are not blocked. The standard size of the active screen is around 0.9m, although the overall height of the LED unit is likely to be higher at around 1.0m.
Electronic LED boards require power and data. Redundant power supply should be provided to ensure that there is no failure of the boards during matches. For environmental reasons, a grid power supply is highly recommended.
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