Law 3 – The Number of Players
Proposed text:
If a named substitute enters the field of play instead of a named player at the start of the match and the referee is not informed of this change:
• the referee allows the named substitute to continue the match
• no disciplinary sanction is taken against the named substitute
• the number of permitted substitutes allowed by the offending team is not reduced
• the referee reports the incident to the appropriate authorities.
Law 3 – The Number of Players
Number of substitutions
Proposed text:
Up to a maximum of three substitutes may be used in any match played in an official competition organised under the auspices of FIFA, the confederations or the member associations. An additional fourth substitution may be used during extra time.
Law 4 – The Players’ Equipment
Proposed text:
Stockings – if tape or similar material is applied externally it must be the same colour as that part of the stocking it is applied to.
Law 8 – The Start and Restart of Play
Infringements and sanctions
Proposed text:
The ball is dropped again:
(…)
If the ball enters the goal:
• if a dropped ball is kicked directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded
• if a dropped ball is kicked directly into the teams’ own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team
Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct
Disciplinary sanctions
Proposed text:
There are circumstances when a caution for unsporting behaviour is required when a player deliberately handles the ball, e.g. when a player:
• deliberately handles the ball to prevent an opponent gaining possession
Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct
Sending-off offences
Proposed text:
A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if he commits any of the following seven offences:
• (…)
• denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick outside the penalty area.
• denying the opposing team a goal or a goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area).
• denying an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by holding or an offence committed from behind inside his own penalty area when he has no opportunity to play the ball.
• (…)
If the previous amendment is approved, the following proposal will be submitted by FIFA:
Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct
Cautions for unsporting behaviour
Proposed text:
There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour, e.g. if a player:
• Commits in a reckless manner one of the seven offences that incur a direct free kick
• Commits a foul for the tactical purpose of interfering with or breaking up a promising attack
• Denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a holding or an offence committed inside his own penalty area when he has the opportunity to play the ball.
• (…)
Also on the agenda for discussion is an update on the Goal-Line Technology (GLT) testing. The independent test institute EMPA will provide a report on the first test phase held between November and December 2011 with eight GLT companies, as well as outlining the procedures for Phase 2 scheduled between March and June 2012.
An update on the Additional Assistant Referee (AAR) experiment, a discussion regarding the hijab following a football seminar in Amman in October 2011, and more information regarding the use of vanishing spray by referees at the 2011 Copa America - to mark out the 9.15m where defending teams have to stand for a free kick – are also on the agenda, among other topics.
Source: FIFA/IFAB
