Two new advisory panels for IFAB

The agenda for this month’s Annual Business Meeting (ABM) of The IFAB has been confirmed, as well as the representatives confirmed to take part in two new advisory panels that will meet just prior to the ABM at the Europa Hotel in Belfast, Northern Ireland on 24 and 25 November. Established to support The IFAB with greater expertise before decisions are passed, the Football Advisory Panel and the Technical Advisory Panel will meet twice a year to discuss topical matters related to the Laws of the Game and present their findings and recommendations to The IFAB. The roles of the panels are further explained in the new statutes, which were approved at The IFAB foundation meeting on 13 January 2014. In terms of participants for the upcoming meetings, The IFAB has signed off on proposals from the six confederations while also selecting additional experts for the panels. They include stakeholders from across the world of football, including former players, coaches and referees as well as confederation, association and league representatives and FIFPro. In general, the representatives will serve on the panels for a period of two years. 

Those confirmed to take part in the upcoming advisory panel meetings are listed below. Both panel meetings will be chaired by Patrick Nelson, Chief Executive of the Irish FA.

Football Advisory Panel 

Anthony Baffoe (Ghana), Gijs de Jong (Netherlands, KNVB), Shaka Hislop (Trinidad & Tobago), Christian Karembeu (New Caledonia), Ioan Lupescu (Romania), Hidetoshi Nakata (Japan), Wynton Rufer (New Zealand), Richard Jobson (England, FIFPro), Andreas Rettig (Germany, DFL).

Technical Advisory Panel 

Neale Barry (The FA), Jean-Paul Brigger (FIFA), Massimo Busacca (FIFA), William Campbell (Irish FA), Lim Kee Chong (Mauritius), Pierluigi Collina (UEFA Head of Refereeing), Sonia Denoncourt (CONCACAF Head of Refereeing), David Elleray (England), Ray Ellingham (Wales FA), John Fleming (Scottish FA), Mark Hester (OFC Head of Refereeing), Jorge Larrionda (Uruguay, FIFA Referees Committee), Yoshimi Ogawa (AFC Head of Refereeing), Manoel Serapião (Brazil).

Source: FIFA/IFAB

New concussion procedure

Following approval by the Executive Committee, UEFA is immediately introducing a new concussion procedure for all of its competitions as it underlines its commitment to player welfare. In the event of a suspected concussion, the referee stops the game for up to three minutes, to allow the injured player to be assessed by the team doctor. A player will only be allowed to continue playing on specific confirmation by the team doctor to the referee of the player's fitness to carry on.

The Executive Committee agreed that the following procedure be included in the relevant UEFA regulations as soon as possible: "In the event of suspected concussion, the referee stops the game to allow the injured player to be assessed by the team doctor. In principle this should take no more than three minutes, unless a serious incident requires the player to be treated on the field of play or immobilised on the field for immediate transfer to hospital (e.g. spinal injury). A player suffering a head injury that requires assessment for potential concussion will only be allowed to continue playing after the assessment, on specific confirmation by the team doctor to the referee of the player's fitness to do so."

UEFA General Secretary Gianni Infantino explained the rationale behind the decision. "We have to protect the health of players above everything," he said. "The Executive Committee has taken note of a report of the Medical Committee and has taken the decision that in cases of concussion in matches, the referee stops the game for three minutes to give the team doctor a chance to come and check the player, and analyse if the player is fit to resume the game or not." He added: "And in the end, it will be the responsibility and the duty of the team doctor, and only the team doctor, to decide whether a player can get back on the pitch, and whether a player can play or whether a player can be substituted. It is very important to safeguard the health of the players, so this will be applied with immediate effect in all of our competitions."

UEFA Medical Committee chairman, Dr. Michel D'Hooghe, welcomed the move: "The implementation of the concussion guidelines is a further step forward in UEFA's continued work to provide the optimum protection for players during matches, and to safeguard their health and welfare. I am delighted that the initiative has been agreed by the Executive Committee to become standard practice at all UEFA matches."

Another positive response to the new provisions came from UEFA's chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina. “I am pleased the new procedure in case of concussion will be implemented this week, just a few days after it was approved by UEFA’s Executive Committee," he said. "In my opinion, the new procedure gives referees a clear view of who makes the final decision on whether a player can continue to play or has to leave the game - it is the team doctor and no-one else. I hope this will lead to improved health and safety of players overall.”

Source: UEFA

IFAB vote on changes to “The Players’ Equipment”

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) convened at the Home of FIFA in Zurich on Saturday for its Annual General Meeting (AGM), chaired by FIFA President Blatter. This meeting was the 128th AGM since The IFAB was formed in 1886 and the first since the historic foundation meeting on 13 January 2014, which marked a new era for football’s rule-making body in becoming an independent association under the Swiss Civil Code. FIFA President Blatter opened the meeting by highlighting the importance of the new structure, which includes two new advisory panels – a Technical Panel and a Football Panel – ensuring a more proactive approach and broader consultation by including different stakeholders from across the world of football to support The IFAB before decisions are passed. The composition of the advisory panels was discussed at today’s AGM. A draft list will be finalised by The IFAB in the coming weeks and the two panels confirmed in due course once the invitations have been sent out and all members have accepted.

In relation to the Laws of the Game, The IFAB approved the modification to the interpretation of ‘Law 4 – The Players’ Equipment’ specifying the provisions by which male and female players can now wear head covers. After a two-year pilot, The IFAB agreed that there was no indication as to why the wearing of head covers should be prohibited, as long as their design restrictions are respected in line with the new wording of Law 4, agreed on at today’s AGM. Law 4 was also modified today to clarify that both compulsory equipment and undergarments must not have any kind of slogans, statements or images. Previously, what a player could reveal on any item of basic compulsory equipment was different to what he or she could wear on an undergarment. The IFAB therefore approved the clarification in order to have a consistent approach that is also easier to regulate.

On the agenda point relating to rolling subs for amateur/recreational football, which was submitted by The Football Association (FA) and The Scottish Football Association (SFA), The IFAB decided that the pilots initiated by The FA and the SFA shall continue and that the results will be submitted to the two new advisory panels for further discussion.

The matter of electronic performance and tracking systems, which relates to players wearing chips or other small devices that can monitor player performance, will be referred to the advisory panels. The first report that the panels will receive will be from next week’s Algarve Cup in Portugal, where The IFAB has initiated and permitted a trial of some of these systems for the senior women’s teams involved.

For the submission from UEFA relating to the use of ‘Sin Bins’ in recreational youth football, The IFAB agreed that the experiments may continue, under the control of The IFAB, and that the advisory panels should further deliberate on the matter.

UEFA also submitted a proposal to remove the red card given for any offence denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity inside the penalty area. The IFAB acknowledged that the so-called ‘triple punishment’ has been heavily debated including concerns that, if red cards were to be removed, it would lead to cynical fouls – as was the case under the previous wording of ‘Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct’ in relation to sending off offences. It was decided that the advisory panels should consider the matter to analyse how Law 12 might be further clarified.

The IFAB will also instruct the two advisory panels to discuss Law 12 with respect to handling the ball, after an initial proposal from the Football Association of Wales (FAW), to advise if any modification should be made.

After a discussion on the potential use of video replays for match officials, The IFAB remains of the view that technology should be allowed only for goal-line incidents, since it is a clear yes or no decision. Concerns were raised about video replays slowing the game down or increasing the number of stoppages.

A proposal from the Technical Sub-Committee was approved whereby The IFAB will appoint a group to revise the structure and format of the Laws of the Game including changes such as the addition of a glossary. This glossary will help to clarify wording in the Laws. For instance, since 'Law 8 - The Start and Restart of Play: Dropped Ball' was changed at the 126th IFAB AGM in March 2012, there has still been some discussion on the interpretation of the word ‘direct.’ At today’s AGM, The IFAB noted that a new glossary will help to better define the wording in this case and others.

The modifications to the Laws of the Game made at today’s AGM will come into effect on 1 June 2014, taking into account the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The 129th Annual General Meeting will take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland on 27 February - 1 March 2015.

Source: FIFA

Foundation meeting marks new era for IFAB

It was a landmark day in the 127-year history of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) on Monday as a signing ceremony in Zurich marked the beginning of a new era for the board as an autonomous organisation. The IFAB – the body in charge of acting as the guardian of the Laws of the Game – is now officially registered as an independent association under the Swiss Civil Code, with its own statutes that define the purpose, structure and responsibilities of the board and its bodies.

During the meeting at the Home of FIFA, the founding members of the IFAB were named as: The Football Association (represented by Chairman Greg Dyke), the Scottish Football Association (represented by President Campbell Ogilvie), the Football Association of Wales (represented by President Trefor Lloyd Hughes), the Irish Football Association (represented by President Jim Shaw), and FIFA (represented by FIFA President Blatter). The Board of Directors was confirmed to include Jérôme Valcke (FIFA Secretary General), Jonathan Ford (Chief Executive of the FAW), Alex Horne (General Secretary of The FA), Patrick Nelson (Chief Executive of the IFA) and Stewart Regan (Chief Executive of the SFA) – all of whom were also in attendance. The foundation meeting marked a significant step in the IFAB reform process, run in parallel with FIFA’s own governance reform process, which has included a detailed and thorough review of IFAB processes. Another key change is the introduction of two new advisory panels – a Technical Panel and a Football Panel – which will include different stakeholders from across the world of football to support the IFAB with greater expertise before decisions are passed. This will improve the consultative process, with the panel members providing a wider understanding of how football is being played globally. The composition of these panels will be confirmed at the next Annual General Meeting on 1 March 2014 in Zurich. An executive support office is also being introduced, which will be the administrative arm of the IFAB led by the secretary of the board who will report to, and act on behalf of, the Board of Directors. This office, with its headquarters in Zurich, will be dealing with all administrative matters of the IFAB and will also be the main contact for the board. Additionally, in order to enhance the independence and improve the understanding of the Laws of the Game and all processes involved, the IFAB will launch its own website, where all documents will be available and the reasoning behind IFAB decisions will be published. Meanwhile, the voting procedure will remain the same, with the British members having one vote each and FIFA, representing the remaining 205 associations, holding four votes. For a decision to be passed at the AGM, a 75% majority is required. Any member association can suggest amendments to the Laws of the Game through one of the IFAB members, who are responsible for proposing matters to be discussed at the AGM.

Source: FIFA

New wording for Law 11 (Offside)

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) under the chairmanship of the Scottish FA President Campbell Ogilvie, convened for its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 2 March 2013, at the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland. This meeting was the 127th AGM since the IFAB was formed in 1886 and also marked the centenary of FIFA’s participation as a member of the IFAB.

In relation to the Laws of the Game, IFAB approved the following wording clarification:
Law 11 – Offside – Interpretation of the Laws of the Game
In the context of Law 11 – Offside, the following definitions apply:
- "interfering with play" means playing or touching the ball passed or touched by a team-mate
- "interfering with an opponent" means preventing an opponent from playing or being able to play the ball by clearly obstructing the opponent’s line of vision or challenging an opponent for the ball.
- "gaining an advantage by being in that position" means playing a ball
(i) that rebounds or is deflected to him off the goalpost, crossbar or an opponent having been in an offside position
(ii) that rebounds, is deflected or is played to him from a deliberate save by an opponent having been in an offside position.
A player in an offside position receiving the ball from an opponent, who deliberately plays the ball (except from a deliberate save), is not considered to have gained an advantage. 

Brief reports were also provided on Additional Assistant Referees, and the decision approved last year related to Law 4 (The Players’ Equipment) with regards to the headscarf – to allow a trial, non-mandatory period – the IFAB reiterated that a final decision will be made at next year’s Annual General Meeting. Finally, a proposal to review Law 8 (The Start and Restart of Play “Dropped Ball”) was postponed for further consultation, with a new proposal to be presented at the 2014 Annual General Meeting. An agreement was also made to form a working group to review the full Laws of the Game to improve clarity where appropriate.
The IFAB also received an update on the goal-line technology (GLT) project, since the historic decision to approve its introduction at the IFAB Special Meeting on 5 July 2012. The meeting agreed that the decision whether to allow replays of goal-line incidents for broadcast purposes and/or on stadium giant screens is to be made independently by individual competition organisers. Also on the subject of GLT, the IFAB agreed each competition organiser should have the autonomy to decide whether they wish to use GLT in individual matches, or all matches of a tournament. Amongst the items for discussion was the usage of electronic performance monitoring systems. The Board agreed to form a consultation group, comprised of medics, coaches, former players and IFAB Technical Sub-Committee members to review this matter further.
Amendments to the Laws of the Game taken by the IFAB come into effect on 1 July 2013.

Source: FIFA/IFAB