Fifa To Test Video Assistant, New Rules For Football

SAN FRANCISCO, March 06, (THEWILL) – Trials for Video Assistant Referees and a fourth substitution in extra time has been approved by The International Football Association Board (IFAB).

The IFAB also confirmed that 12 leagues and one confederation are interested in staging live trials.

The endorsement of the trial was praised by FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, as “historic decision” observing that the Football Federation are not “leading the debate” but also listening to the fans and players.

A decision to test the advantages and disadvantage of video assistants in private before implementing live experiments for the 2017-18 season was taken at IFAB’s annual general meeting in Cardiff on Saturday.

The IFAB has also amended the wording of the rule concerning the “triple punishment” for a player who concedes a penalty and is sent off and suspended having been deemed to have denied an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Furthermore, a player who is injured by a challenge that results in a yellow or red card can be treated on the field rather than having to leave the pitch and hand the team who committed the offence an advantage.

In other changes, players will be able to kick the ball in any direction from the kick-off instead of just being able to kick it sideways or backwards.

Story by David Oputah