Date:         Wed, 11 Apr 2001 11:51:32 -0400
Reply-To:     Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees <[log in to unmask]>
Sender:       Discussion of Topics for Soccer Referees <[log in to unmask]>
From:         Vince Mauro <[log in to unmask]>
Subject:      From FIFA News-April 2001
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

> 115th Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association
> Board (IFAB)
>
> Referees to clamp down on holding, Golden Goal in Laws of the Game.
>
> Football's law-makers will instruct referees to apply the Laws of the Game
> more strictly as a means against players who hold their opponents or pull
> them by their shirts.  The International Football Association Board,
> holding its 115th Annual General Meeting in Edinburgh (Scotland) on 10
> March, decided that relevant mandatory instructions would be issued to
> match officials throughout the world.
>
> The stance taken by the International F.A. Board follows an increase in
> offences of this type since the introduction of a ban on tackles from
> behind, which the referees are also asked to sanction more strictly, and a
> ban on simulating fouls, with the fouled player frequently reacting and
> the situation tending to escalate.
>
> Moreover, the Board decided to add the Golden Goal provisions to the Laws
> of the Game as a method of determining the winning team along with the
> taking kicks from the penalty mark.
>
> In future, not only the coach but also other team officials, such as the
> assistant coach, may-one at a time--convey tactical instructions to the
> players during a match. They eventually have to return to their bench but
> no longer need to do so immediately. The change was advocated by FIFA on
> the recommendation of its Technical Committee.
>
> Regarding disciplinary action, only a player or substitute or substituted
> player may be shown the red or yellow card. A player who has been sent off
> must leave the vicinity of the field of play and the technical area. Red
> and yellow cards may not be shown to team officials, who in case of
> indiscipline are to be reported to the relevant bodies by the referee.
>
> The celebration of goals is only to be considered as a punishable offence
> if it borders on provocation or leads to time-wasting. Contrary to current
> regulations, it will no longer automatically be a cautionable offence if a
> player takes off his shirt to celebrate a goal. In this respect, the
> International F.A. Board and FIFA recognise the natural and emotional joy
> of scoring goals.
>
> The amendments to the Laws come into force on 1 July this year.
>
> The Board also discussed the experiment in England by which free kicks are
> advanced by 9.15 metres (10 yards) when a player of the penalised team
> fails to respect the required distance or delays the restart of the game.
> The Board felt the results of the ongoing experiments were not yet
> sufficiently conclusive and extended the tests for another year, albeit
> under slightly modified circumstances. FIFA will also conduct such tests
> at this year's U-17 World Championship in Trinidad and Tobago from 14-30
> September as part of the education of young players to respect the Laws of
> the Game.
>
> The experiment with two referees to officiate matches, on the other hand,
> has been abandoned, as it not yet yielded sufficient positive results.
>
> The International F.A. Board acknowledged the importance of artificial
> turf and endorsed the quality concept recently introduced by FIFA. It was
> also stated that official FIFA qualification matches may be played on
> appropriate artificial surfaces because the quality of this type of
> surface has improved significantly. Furthermore, the meeting reiterated
> that advertising and clubs' logos on goal nets are not allowed.
>
> The International F.A. Board is constituted by The Football Association
> (England), The Scottish Football Association, The Football Association of
> Wales, The Irish Football Association and FIFA, each of which is
> represented by four delegates. FIFA has four votes on behalf of all
> affiliated national associations in membership. The other members
> associations each have one vote. For a proposal to succeed, it must
> receive the support of at least three-quarters of those present and
> entitled to vote.
>
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