A football pitch is the playing surface for the game of
football (soccer). Its dimensions and markings are defined by Law 1 of the
Laws of the Game, "The Field of Play".All line markings on the
pitch form part of the area which they define. For example, a ball on or over the touchline is still on the field of play; a ball on the line of the goal area is in the goal area; and a foul committed over the 16.5 metres (18-
yard) line has occurred in the
penalty area. Therefore a ball must wholly cross the touchline to be out of play, and a ball must wholly cross the goal line (between the goal posts) before a goal is scored; if any part of the ball is still on or over the line, the ball is still in play.
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