Football is advancing and the
IFAB
(International Football Association Board), the international association in charge of defining the rules of football, introduced
changes to favor the development of the game.
The entity made up of the four football associations of the United Kingdom and FIFA, based in Zurich, approved this Saturday a package of modifications that authorizes, among the most salient, the addition of
an additional change if a footballer suffers a concussion
and the extension from six to eight seconds in the time of possession of the ball by goalkeepers.
The decisions, which will come into force from July 1, were adopted at the Annual General Assembly, which was chaired and organized by the Scottish federation and also attended by representatives of the federations of England, Ireland, Wales and the FIFA.
Furthermore, the possibility of introducing the blue card was ruled out, which had been proposed as a measure to limit the protests of the footballers to the referees and which would imply expulsion for 10 minutes.
Gianni Infantino questioned the introduction of the blue card.
Photo: Karim Jaafar/AFP.
Changes in the regulations
Only the captain of a team will be able to approach the referee in certain situations.
Cooling periods will be introduced to allow the referee to ask the teams to go to their own area.
The time limit in which goalkeepers can have the ball in their hands will be increased to eight seconds.
Otherwise possession will pass to the opposing team.
Rule 3 (players): Additional permanent concussion substitutions will be an option in accordance with the necessary protocol.
Rule 4 (equipment): Players will be responsible for the size and suitability of their shin guards, which remain a mandatory part of their equipment.
Rule 12 (Fouls and Misconduct): Handball violations that are not deliberate and for which sanctions are imposed must be treated in the same manner as other fouls.
Rule 14 (penalty kick): part of the ball must touch or exceed the center of the penalty spot and invasion by field players will be penalized only if it has an impact.