The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is considering implementing countdowns for throw-ins, goal kicks, and substitutions in a bid to maintain the momentum throughout matches in the World Cup.
In anticipation of the summer tournament, new regulations may limit throw-ins and goal kicks to a five-second countdown, alongside a ten-second maximum for substitutions, to ensure game flow remains uninterrupted.
Building on the success of an eight-second rule for goalkeepers, referees could soon be authorized to enforce a five-second timer on dead-ball situations if they deem that players are taking excessive time to execute these actions.
Additionally, the potential disruption caused by substitutions has been recognized; under the suggested guidelines, substitutes would have a strict ten-second window to enter the pitch. Should they breach this time frame, their entry could be delayed for a specified duration, possibly lasting up to a minute. Injured players may also have to stay off the field for a certain period, discouraging any misuse of stoppages by teams.
When queried on the possibility of these regulations being implemented at the World Cup in North America, IFAB’s technical director, David Elleray, responded affirmatively, saying, "They could be, yes."
Noel Mooney, chief executive of the Football Association of Wales and chair of IFAB’s recent annual business meeting in London, expressed frustration over match interruptions: "We all get annoyed when we see a game halted, and there is often suspicion regarding the legitimacy of the stoppage whether tactical reasons are involved. We are keen to ensure that this year, along with several measures, we make improvements to the game."
During the meeting, discussions included the potential to broaden VAR reviews. This would allow for inspections of red cards deemed to result from wrongly administered second yellow cards and circumstances where the incorrect team faces punishment for a foul. Competitions may also have the discretion to review corner kicks, provided it does not delay the game's restart.
FIFA's head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, is a proponent of corner kick reviews, which are likely to be applied at the World Cup, although overall support for this remains somewhat limited.
Trials for a new “daylight” offside rule, advocated by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, will proceed. This rule stipulates that a player will be considered onside if any part of their body capable of scoring is level with the second-last defender. An alternate version, taking only the torso into account, may also undergo testing.
Wenger, now FIFA’s chief of global football development, remarked: "For years, offside has been assessed based on the foremost part of a player's body, so judging by the torso would constitute a significant change — we must define what constitutes the torso. Our initial aim is to attempt this radical approach before deciding on any necessary adjustments."
Boluwatife Enome
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