IFAB AGM 2016

IFAB held it's AGM at the end of last week.

The main reported story has been the proposal for Video Ref trials to start at the beginning of the 2017/18 season at the latest, and to continue for a period of at least 2 years. IFAB has been in discussion with various FAs and leagues and there are up to 13 countries interesting in hosting the trials.

Clarification was given as to what Video Refs would be involved in. They are not expected to give 100% accuracy in every decision made, rather they are to address what are being termed as "clearly incorrect decisions that are pre-defined “game-changing" situations."

These situations include goals, penalties, mistaken identity and red cards.

The decision to review seems to lie with the referee and not with the managers or players.

Heres a handy infographic:

http://quality.fifa.com/en/VAR/

Also, in among the media talk about VARs (Video Assistant Referees, quite nifty don't you think) there seems to have been lost some of the other changes that will happen and affect the game almost immediately.

There was a comprehensive review of the laws of the game to try to make them much easier to interpret, and also, to bring some much needed common sense to the decisions.

a few highlights include:

* At kick off, the ball does not need to travel into the opposing half first

* If a player is injured from a challenge which is punished by a red or yellow card, he can have quick treatment on the field of play and does not have to leave.

* If a player goes off to change his boots, at the moment he has to wait until the game is stopped and the referee has to go and check his boots before he can play again. Now we are saying his boots or whatever can be checked by the fourth official, the assistant referee even, and (the player can) come back during play

* Two players go off the field of play. One tries to get back on to play the ball, and the other one grabs him off the field of play to stop him going back on. At the moment the referee gives a red or yellow card and restarts with a drop ball, which is clearly wrong. So we will be giving a free kick on the touchline or the goal-line. If it's inside the penalty area, it can be a penalty kick

* My favourite rule change.......if a non playing player, or other member of staff runs on the field and prevents a goal, it presently results in either a drop ball or indirect free kick. However, now it will be a direct free kick, and likely a penalty. No more physios flinging themselves across the 6 yard box to stop a goal bound shot.

Also, triple punishment of red card, penalty and suspension will be revised. Essentially, the ref can issue a yellow card for denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity instead of the mandatory red. This would happen in circumstances where the actual challenge or infringement is seen as a yellow card elsewhere on the pitch. It being an obvious goal scoring opportunity should not necessitate a harsher punishment (that is, red card instead of yellow.)

So there you have it. An absolutely worhtwhile way for me to spend my lunch break.

Unless someone already covered this elsewhere