News from the IFAB Annual Business Meeting

[ClaretTony]

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved proposed trials whereby only the team captain may approach the referee and for sin bins to be tested at a higher level.

The measures aim to improve participant behaviour in football and increase respect for officials.

The proposals were supported at the IFAB's Annual Business Meeting (ABM) in London on Tuesday.

A proposed trial where only the team captain can approach the referee "in certain major game situations" was given the green light.

It was also agreed sin bins "for dissent and specific tactical offences" should be trialled at higher levels following their successful implementation in grassroots football.

Further trials are to be developed on the stricter application of the laws of the game against players and coaches who demonstrate disrespectful conduct and the better management of mass confrontations.

The ABM discussed potential strategies to address time-wasting tactics, including the six-second restriction for goalkeepers, delaying restarts and managing injuries. The members agreed any new VAR measures should not result in any additional delays.

It also considered potential clarifications for next season's laws, including a possible amendment to Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct), in which handball offences for penalties would be sanctioned in the same way as fouls.

The ABM agreed on continuing to develop semi-automated offside technology to assist on-field match officials to speed up offside decisions.

It was also agreed that, after the VAR decision communication trial conducted by FIFA, in which the referee announces the final decision after a VAR review, the ABM should consider including this effective measure in the laws of the game.

The members were also updated on the successful trial involving match officials wearing body cameras at grassroots level, which was introduced to deter serious misconduct incidents towards officials.

[Quickenthetempo]

Let's hope they come into the game.

[RammyClaret61]

I’ve also read that they want more VAR involvement during the game. Including All Free kicks & Corners, and yellow cards to be reviewed.

The game we loved, played on the pitch in front of stands full of fans is now dead. It’s now solely a tv show.

[HunterST_BFC]

Just imagine the amount of feigning injury, cramp. delaying corners, freekicks etc to waste time when a plyer is sin binned... thus negating the punishment.

Get prepared for even longer games...

[tarkys_ears]

Well... the players behaviour is far from the worst thing I see on the pitch these days.

When are they gonna ref properly? Absolute smoke and mirrors job going on. There is nothing not in a refs arsenal to cut down on this if they wanted to already.

[elwaclaret]

I can’t wait until the breakaway league of clubs determined to remain at least able to imagine a London Association type football game.

You know the one they all saw money in.

[jdrobbo]

Flipping heck. If this is coming in then we really do need refs fully micd up! Communication will be needed and the mics will help with dissent cases.

[GodIsADeeJay81]

I thought the captain being the only one to talk to the ref was already a thing tbh, but it wasn’t enforced

[Vegas Claret]

Sin bin trial start date confirmed and specific foul that referees will clamp down on
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) will trial sin bins for 'dissent and specific tactical offences' after a successful implementation into the grassroots game
Football's lawmakers have approved a “sin bin” trial as part of a major clampdown on player behaviour.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) met in London on Tuesday and have agreed new measures to improve conduct on the pitch. It will see “sin bins” being trialed in the amateur game from next season and if successful could potentially be brought in from the 2025/26 season.

They also agreed to a new rule where only team captains can approach the referee and officials during flashpoints which were described as “major game situations.” FIFA referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina told Sky that the abuse and physical threat facing officials “might be the cancer that kills football.”

The “sin bin” trial was also welcomed by referees’ charity and pressure group RefssupportUK who have been calling for better protection and respect for officials. They said: “Temporary Dismissals (Sin bins) at higher levels will be very interesting and it will remain to be seen what ‘higher levels’ mean but this is a major positive step forward in addressing poor behaviour in our game. Well done to all involved.”

It is likely that “sin bins” could be used at semi-pro level and if is a success then it could be fast tracked into top leagues as there is a real push to bring back respect for officials. Players could be banished from the pitch in a similar style to rugby and leave the field for ten minutes after specific offences like “tactical fouls” and more minor dissent.

‌Tactical fouls are often used by teams to slow the game down and to disrupt play but it has crept into top level football. Dissent and mass confrontations is also becoming a bigger issue and, even though there was a clampdown on players surrounding refs two seasons ago, football’s lawmakers want to get even tougher.

That is also likely to see a trial whereby only team captains can approach the officials and again this was recommended to be put forward for IFAB’s next meeting in Glasgow on March 2 when it could get rubber stamped and brought in for next season.

The board meeting - attended by Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham - also gave the green light for referees to wear body cameras at a higher level after what was described as a “successful” grassroots trial. The grassroots trial highlighted shocking touchline behaviour from coaches, parents and players towards officials and it could work well to safeguard referees at all levels of the game.

There was no big change to VAR but the prospect of more changes to the current system remains on the table which could see video technology also look at free kicks, corners and second yellow cards. However, it is felt that until the use of VAR - it currently checks goals, red cards penalties and offsides - is improved and delays are reduced, then it should not be widened.

[Goody1975]

See thread

viewtopic.php?t=73081

[Vegas Claret]

See thread

viewtopic.php?t=73081

at least this has a better title thread

[dsr]

I'm looking forward to the change in the handball law. I wonder of the people who keep rewriting it year after year, will ever realise that they aren't improving it?

[Funkydrummer]

If that cr@p comes in, I'm off. Just about had enough of
ruining the game I grew up with. Progress is one thing, but
this messing about and inventing remedies to problems of
their own making is ruining the beautiful game. The fans
are an irrelevance to be disregarded at every twist and turn
and I, for one, am sick to the back teeth of it.

[California Colner]

In a couple of years we won’t even recognize our national game.
Sad but true!!!

[dougcollins]

Determined to morph it into NFL, and all the commerce with it.

[Transpennine]

I thought the captain being the only one to talk to the ref was already a thing tbh, but it wasn’t enforced

I thought so too, although I understood it was the captain and the player from the same team who was involved in the incident. Either way, it's never been enforced beyond September of whichever season it was introduced...

[Clive 1960]

just let the referees ref the game and we can go pub after and have a good argument just like the good old day's,

[Foshiznik]

If they guarantee better, consistent and fair decision making, I am right behind it. Unfortunately that is not what the current VAR does.

[Goody1975]

Stop ******* about with the game

[Royboyclaret]

Stop ******* about with the game

Too late, Goody1975......the game is beyond recall.

Jimmy Mac would have no interest.

[Foshiznik]

The game was lost when referees gave in and started giving favourable calls to the big clubs and home teams. VAR just amplifies the phenomenon.