IFAB will meet on March 3 to decide on the new rules and discuss the implementation of semi-automatic offside

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body that establishes the rules of football, will meet on March 3 to discuss and vote on the regulations for the next season. Among the topics of discussion is the possibility of implementing the five changes (it was only temporarily) permanently, the possibility of implementing semi-automatic offside in the VAR and the position of the goalkeepers during the taking of a penalty.

The saturation of matches for the four-month period in football as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic led the IFAB and FIFA to modify rule 3 in order to protect players. For this reason, the number of substitutions per match was increased from 3 to 5 in all competitions that so decided. This amendment is in force until December 31, 2022, but given the good reception and acceptance of the world of football, in addition to preserving the health of footballers, a modification will be carried out forever. The heads of the IFAB (the presidents of the federations of the United Kingdom and FIFA) will approve in the General Assembly on March 3, as you have recommended in all the consultation panels, that the possibility of making five changes per match stays forever in the rules of football.

In said meeting they also announce that other regulations will be discussed in addition to reviewing the modifications made in previous years, where the hands have been the most modified rule. Another of the revisions and clarifications will be the position of the goalkeepers in penalty shots. Many goalkeepers have complained about the obligation to have one foot on the goal line when a penalty is taken. There are also other critics about the fact that on many occasions both feet are behind. Given this situation, IFAB already wanted to make a clarification in November, although it will be discussed again in March: “The confirmation that the goalkeeper must be on the goal line before a penalty kick is taken (or a shot from the penalty), but he is not penalized for having one foot behind the goal line at the moment the kick is taken.

Looking to the future, new debates will also be planned, such as the offside rule. The controversial action of the UEFA Nations League will be discussed in which a small brush by Eric García validated the advanced position of Kylian Mbappé and that cost Spain the final. But it will not be the only change for offsides. FIFA will present its latest studies and tests (in the Arab Cup and soon in the Club World Cup) of semi-automatic offside technology with a view to adding said application to the use of VAR.

The proposal that has not gone ahead and will not be voted on in the March Assembly is that of Conmebol to extend the breaks in soccer matches from 15 to 25 minutes. “Several members shared their concerns, especially regarding the possible negative repercussions on the well-being and safety of the players due to a longer period of inactivity. Therefore, it was decided that this proposal would not be carried out, ”said IFAB. (D)