Clarification of the handball law and confirmation of the launch of concussion center trials were the key outcomes of the 135th Annual Meeting (AGM) of the Board of the International Football Association (The IFAB), which was held today by video conference.
Various changes and clarifications of the laws of the game were agreed at the AGM, with a particular focus on Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct.
As the interpretation of handball events was not always consistent due to incorrect applications of the Law, members confirmed that not every touch of a player’s hand / arm by the ball is a criminal offense. In terms of the hand / arm criterion making a player’s body “surprisingly larger”, it was confirmed that referees should continue to use their judgment in determining the validity of the hand / arm position. in terms of the player’s movement in that particular situation. .
After this clarification, it is an offense to play handball if a player:
- deliberately rubbing the ball with the hand / arm, for example moving the hand / arm towards the ball;
- rubbing the ball with the hand / arm when it has naturally enlarged the body. A player is thought to have made their body naturally larger when the position of the hand / arm is not the result, or justified by the player’s body movement for that particular position. By getting the hand / arm in such a position, the player risks hitting the hand / arm with the ball and being punished; no
- Opposition goal scores:
directly from their hand / arm, even if accidentally, ingested by the keeper; no
– immediately after the ball has been rubbed on the hand / arm, even if unknowingly.
An accidental handball that forces a team player to score or score goals will no longer be considered a criminal offense.
Further clarification was agreed at the AGM for inclusion in the Laws of the Game 2021/22, incorporating Law 11 (the definition of Law 12 for handball, by which the arm ends at the base of the armpit, used when judging whether a player is in an upside-down position) and Law 12 (the offense of using a “trick” to get around the Law against the keeper handling the ball from a deliberate kick from a teammate relating to goal kicks; the coach will be warned).
Members were updated on the early stages of the trials with concussion agents, agreed at the IFAB Business AGM in 2020 (see IFAB circular no21). The IFAB confirmed that the decision to launch the concussion center trials was based on the strong recommendation of the Concussion Expert Group made up of leading medical and football experts who closely examined the appropriateness of good practice in other sports. to football. There was also consultation with, and support from, key stakeholders and the IFAB Football and Technical Advisory Panels.
The trials, which are currently scheduled to run until August 2022, have already been introduced in international and domestic competitions around the world, with more competitions to take place. participated or expressed an interest in participating.
In the meantime, IFAB and FIFA will continue to collect, analyze and comment on football and medical-related feedback and data that will inform any decisions about possible implementation of the Laws of the Game.
Regarding the temporary change to Law 3, which allows teams to have the option of using up to five substitutes in matches in high level competitions (for club competitions ending before 31 December 2021 and national team competitions ending before 31 July 2022), members agreed that the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on football should be reviewed.
Members also received updates from FIFA on possible changes to the unbiased law and the latest developments in terms of video support refereeing (VARs) innovations that could enable competitions. with more limited budgets to use VAR technology.
Finally, it was agreed that, in order to give players, coaches and match officials more time to become aware of the changes to the laws of the game, the effective date will be moved from June 1 to July 1, although which will keep competitions the flexibility to introduce changes before that date.
The meeting was chaired by the President of the Welsh Football Association, Kieran O’Connor, and was attended by representatives from FIFA – led by President Gianni Infantino – as well as from the FA, FA of Ireland, the Scottish FA and the IFAB’s administration.
The decisions made at last year’s IFAB AGM are available here.