March 6 – The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body that controls the rules of the game, is keeping the proposal for temporary concussion subs on the back burner but is advocating the wider global rollout of its accurate calculation of ‘additional time’ that was implemented at the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Concussion subs have become a controversial issue with players and their representatives who have advocated temporary replacements while players are assessed for concussion.
FIFA already has a trial with additional permanent concussion substitutes, who can be used without counting towards a team’s permitted changes. That trial has been extended “to facilitate the collection of additional data”. A trial of temporary concussion subs remains benched for the moment.
The added time initiative started at the World Cup – which saw matches run on average run for more than 100 minutes – was reported as being “positively received” by the IFAB board with FIFA president Gianni Infantino saying that they want to see it more widely applied and that they will take a watching brief to ensure that it happens.
“We want to fight against time-wasting, we want the fans to enjoy the game,” said Infantino.
“We have to ensure that also the application of the Laws of the Game are universal. We will monitor leagues all over the world to ensure proper stoppage time is played.”
IFAB also updated on VAR developments and extended the 12-month trial begun at the Club World Cup 2022 in Morocco earlier this year where VAR review decisions were broadcast in-stadium and to a live television audience.
This will now be implemented at the U-20 World Cup in Indonesia in May to June 2023 with a further decision to be made on whether the trial will be continued at other FIFA tournaments later this year.
FIFA said the application of semi-automated offside technology and integration of VAR ‘light’ was “successful”, and it was agreed “to review the VAR protocol, procedures and practicalities with key stakeholders”.
VAR ‘light’ is aimed at providing a cut down version of the technology to competitions without the financial resources to implement a full VAR system. IFAB endorsed a trial of an additional video review system with the intention of making it available across the game worldwide.
In other decisions it was agreed to set up a working group to at improving discipline and reducing aggression towards match officials, players and team officials at grassroots and amateur level. The FA reported on a grassroots trial approved by IFA where referees wear body cameras that record all communications with players and coaches.
The 137th AGM was chaired by Debbie Hewitt (pictured centre), chair of The FA, and attended by representatives from FIFA, The FA, the Irish FA, the Scottish FA, the FA of Wales and The IFAB administration.
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