IFAB announce changes to football’s laws this summer

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·3 March 2024

IFAB announce changes to football’s laws this summer

Football lawmakers IFAB are set to make a number of changes to the rules of the game this summer, but they’re stepping back expanded sin-bin trials.

IFAB have announced a few different trials for potential new rules in domestic competitions below the top two tiers next season, including:

Only the team’s captain can approach the referee in certain situation
The introduction of cooling-off periods, allowing the referee to send both teams to their own penalty areas
Increasing the time limit for goalkeepers holding the ball to eight seconds, but possession reverting to the opposing team if they hold it for longer

IFAB have also announced some changes to the current Laws of the Game, to come into effect in July, notably including the option for permanent concussion substitutions, and requiring the ball to overhang the centre of the penalty spot on penalties.

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The changes to the laws are as follows:

Law 3 (The Players): Additional permanent concussion substitutions to be a competition option in accordance with the necessary protocol.
Law 3 (The Players) and Law 4 (The Players’ Equipment): Each team must have a team captain who wears an identifying armband.
Law 4 (The Players’ Equipment): Players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shinguards, which remain a compulsory part of their equipment.
Law 12 (Fouls and Misconduct): Handball offences that are not deliberate, and for which penalties are awarded, are to be treated in the same way as other fouls.
Law 14 (The Penalty Kick): Part of the ball must touch or overhang the centre of the penalty mark, and encroachment by outfield players will be penalised only if it has an impact.

One notable absence from all the changes was the proposals for sin-bins and blue cards.

IFAB write that they’re altered the guidelines on temporary dismissals, and thus trials at youth and grassroots levels will have to continue to assess the changes before they can move onto elite level implementation.

So sin-bins and blue cards aren’t gone for good, but they won’t be arriving in the Premier League anytime soon.