New signalling system for AARs

The Additional Assistant Referee (AAR) system has been introduced in the UEFA's top competitions for several years. According to the official guidelines, the AARs were supposed to only communicate with the referee through the communication system. However, the new FIFA Laws of the Game (page 86) allow AARs, in some instances, to use “discreet hand signals that may give valuable support to the referee. The signals should have a clear meaning that should have been discussed and agreed upon in the pre-match discussion". Based on that and following some recent goal-no goal situations in the Champions League, UEFA Chief Refereeing Officer, Pierluigi Collina, advised all AARs that, in addition to using the communication system, they must clearly signal for a goal with the left arm perpendicular to the goal line pointing towards the centre of the field (flagstick in the left hand is also required), as done by Danny Makkelie in the recent Champions League match Arsenal - Olympiakos (photo).

UEFA submitted an official proposal to the IFAB to implement the following text in the new edition of the Laws of the Game:

"When the ball has wholly crossed the goal line within the goal, the AAR must:

- immediately inform the referee via the communication system that a goal should be awarded,

- make a clear signal with the left arm perpendicular to the goal line pointing towards the centre of the field (flagstick in the left hand is also required).

The referee will make the final decision."

Source: Daily Mail

Additional IFAB guidance on Law 11 – Offside

Ahead of the 2015/16 season, the body responsible for reviewing the laws of football, the International FA Board (IFAB), has issued new guidance to match officials around the offside law. The two new points of guidance are an addition to the current interpretation of interfering with an opponent, but do not constitute a change in the Laws of the Game.

The additional IFAB guidance

A player in an offside position shall be penalised if he:

1. clearly attempts to play a ball which is close to him when this action impacts on an opponent or 

2. makes an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball.

1. “Clearly attempts to play a ball which is close to him when this action impacts on an opponent”. The first part of the guidance has three elements: clearly attempts to play a ball; close to him; and when this action impacts on an opponent and all three of these elements are required for an offside offence to be committed. Judgement should be based on the physical evidence of the movement and actions of the player in an offside position. Attacking players who clearly attempt to play a ball which is close to them, and in doing so clearly impact on an opponent's ability to play the ball, should be penalised.

2. “Makes an obvious action which clearly impacts on the ability of an opponent to play the ball”. The second part of the guidance has two elements and both an obvious action and impact are necessary for an offside offence to be penalised. Match officials will have to consider whether an obvious action by an attacking player in an offside position means that the opponent would need to delay his action to wait and see if the attacking player in an offside position touches or plays the ball, and/or, the opponent's movement or ball-playing options are clearly restricted by the movement and/or actions of the attacking player in an offside position.

"Clearly attempts": this wording is designed to prevent a player in an offside position who runs towards the ball from quite a long distance being penalised (unless he gets close to the ball).

"Close": is important so that a player in an offside position is not penalised when the ball goes clearly over his head or clearly in front of him. 

"Impacts": applies to an opponent's ability (or potential) to play the ball and will include situations where an opponent's movement to play the ball is delayed, hindered or prevented by the offside player. 

Source: IFAB/Premier League

IFAB delays video technology trials

The 129th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the International Football Association Board (The IFAB) was held on 28 February 2015, at the Culloden Hotel in Craigavad, near Northern Ireland’s capital Belfast.

Following further analysis of the so-called “triple punishment” (Law 12) of sending off, penalty and suspension for the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity within the penalty area, The IFAB agreed that the punishment is too harsh and that a solution must be found. The proposal put forward by UEFA, including a provision that detailed specific instances where a referee should issue a caution instead of a red card, was rejected. After much debate, The IFAB agreed in principle that one element of the triple punishment may be removed and that this element should be the automatic one-match suspension that is currently defined in the FIFA Disciplinary Code. The IFAB has tasked FIFA and its Disciplinary and Legal Committees to investigate the feasibility of administering on a global level the removal of the automatic one-match suspension for offences relating to the denial of an obvious goal-scoring possibility that are not considered serious infringements. Subject to the outcome of that analysis, FIFA will submit a proposal for potential changes to the FIFA Disciplinary Code to the FIFA Executive Committee in March for decision.
In relation to Law 3 – The Number of Players, The IFAB made a ground-breaking decision to allow for return substitutions in the lowest levels of football. It follows the success of two separate pilot programs run by The Football Association and The Scottish Football Association, the results of which demonstrated substantial increases in participation levels across the game. The new provision outlines that the use of return substitutes will be subject to agreement of the member association concerned. Also in relation to Law 3, The IFAB remains of the view that a total of three substitutions is the appropriate number for a football match. It was agreed that the proposal for a fourth substitution in extra time, which was on the agenda today, should be assessed by the advisory panels before any further discussion by The IFAB.
On the matter of electronic performance and tracking systems, The IFAB approved in principle the use of such devices, on the condition that the data is not made available to anyone inside the technical area during a match. The next step will be the introduction of a quality programme in order to categorize such devices, to regulate their use, and to ensure the validity and reliability of the collected data, before any changes to the Laws of the Game can be considered by The IFAB.
With regard to the potential use of video to support match officials, an extensive discussion took place during the AGM including feedback from the two advisory panels. The IFAB decided that this topic should continue to be discussed by the panels in more detail.
Other topics to be referred to the panels include handling the ball, the potential use of “sin bins” and the interpretation of the offside law. A proposal from US Soccer regarding stopping the clock was not approved.
As a final agenda item, The IFAB acknowledged the contribution of the late William McCrum, who, as a member of the Irish FA, proposed the idea of the penalty kick in 1890. FIFA has agreed to fund the restoration of William McCrum’s grave, which has fallen into disrepair.
The modifications to the Laws of the Game made at today’s AGM will come into effect on 1 June 2015. The 130th Annual General Meeting is set to take place in Cardiff, Wales, on 4-6 March 2016.

Source: FIFA/IFAB

"Triple Punishment" on IFAB Agenda

The International Football Association Board (The IFAB) has confirmed the agenda for its 129th annual general meeting (AGM) set to take place at the Culloden Hotel in Craigavad, near Belfast, on Saturday 28 February. The meeting will be chaired by Jim Shaw, President of the Irish Football Association. It follows on from the inaugural meetings of two new advisory panels – a Technical Panel and a Football Panel – which convened in conjunction with The IFAB annual business meeting (ABM) held in Belfast.

At this year’s AGM, a decision is expected to be taken on a proposal presented to The IFAB by FIFA on behalf of its member associations and confederations to amend Law 3 of the Laws of the Game to allow a fourth substitution in extra time. Also up for decision in relation to Law 3 is a proposal to allow for greater flexibility in the use of substitutions in grassroots/recreational football, after successful experiments were conducted by The FA and the Scottish FA. Furthermore, a decision is expected to be taken by The IFAB on the so-called “triple punishment” (Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct, Sending-off offences) with a proposal from UEFA to be reviewed, as well as the use of electronic performance and tracking systems. Other items on the agenda to be discussed but not decided on include “sin bins” in recreational youth football, Law 12 with regard to handling the ball, stopping of the official match time and the potential use of video replays to support match officials. As part of the deliberations, The IFAB will go over feedback provided by the two new advisory panels, which were established to support the board with greater expertise before decisions are passed. The panels consist of representatives from across the world of football and meet twice a year to discuss topical matters related to the Laws of the Game. Ahead of this year’s AGM, a deadline of 1 December 2014 was given to members of The IFAB or any of FIFA’s member associations to submit suggestions or proposed alterations to the Laws of the Game, requests for experimentation, and any other items for discussion to The IFAB.

Source: FIFA/IFAB