FIFA changes 5 provisions of Football Laws

For over 100 years, the Laws of the Game have been the document with the least changes and adjustments. However, recently the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has continuously made changes to help create fairness and more attractiveness in football to attract more viewers. We introduce 5 changes that FIFA has just announced to football federations.

1. No rebound kicks when taking a penalty kick

From June 1, 2019, it is not necessary to make substitutions from the midfield position. Photo: VFF

When taking a penalty kick, if the opposing goalkeeper clears the ball, or the ball hits the crossbar or the goalpost and bounces into the field, the players of the team receiving the penalty kick will not be allowed to rush in to kick the ball. At that time, the penalty kick has ended and the referee will let the goalkeeper kick the ball up.

With the new rule, players from both teams will no longer “wait” outside the penalty area to rush in for a rebound kick, or clear the ball out. For a long time, there have been many situations where referees had to re-kick because players from both sides rushed onto the field when the free kick had not been taken. However, IFAB also emphasized that this rule is only in the testing phase and needs to be approved by future meetings before it can be officially applied.

2. Handball goals are not recognized.

Currently, FIFA still recognizes goals scored by hand, if the player is passive in the situation of touching the ball. This is considered unfair because football is a foot game, the player who lets the ball touch his hand is penalized.

Under the new rule, all goals scored with handball will be disallowed, regardless of whether the player intentionally or unintentionally used his hand to score, or created a scoring opportunity for a teammate.

3. Players can enter the field as substitutes from any position.

Current FIFA regulations require players to move into the midfield area to make a substitution. Many teams do this to prolong dead ball time. But under the new rules, players can enter and exit the field from any position on the pitch to save time.

4. Touching the ball in the penalty area when the goalkeeper kicks the ball

What was once a taboo for all players will become a normal action from June 1, 2019. Players can touch the ball as soon as the goalkeeper puts it into play from the penalty area without being penalized, so the speed of the match will be much faster.

Referee Ngo Duy Lan overreacted to the decision in the quarter-final match of the 2018 National Cup - White Lion between HAGL and Hanoi FC, coach Chu Dinh Nghiem was given a red card. Photo: VFF

5. Change the form of punishment for coaches

Referees have the right to warn and ask coaches to leave the bench if they have inappropriate behavior on the field. In fact, referees have long been issuing red and yellow cards to coaches with inappropriate behavior and words. Occasionally in V.League, we still see coaches being issued red cards by referees and invited to the stands after excessive reactions. That is the referee flexibly applying the law, with the new regulations of IFAB, referees will be allowed to issue yellow and red cards to coaches as punishments currently applied to players.

It is known that in addition to sending documents to football teams, VFF will organize training sessions for coaches, players and referees in the near future.