Football Rule Additions to the 2019-20 Season

IFAB (International Football Association Board) has approved several amendments and clarifications to the current Laws of Football.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is known as the "guardian of the Laws of the Game." It is made up of the four British associations (the FA, SFA, FAW, and IFA). The only organisation that has the authority to review and change the rules governing the game of football is FIFA. The four British associations have one vote each and FIFA which represents the remaining 207 national associations have four votes.

The changes have already come into force on June 1, 2019. Competitions starting before that date had an option to delay these changes until the next season.

Let’s look at some of their main changes-

1) Free kicks: No attacking player can stand in the wall.

From now on, we're going to see a change to the way free kicks are taken.

The IFAB has approved a rule change that stops attacking players from attacking from the free-kick from being on the wall.

Especially, when there is a wall of three or more players attackers are not allowed within one meter of it.

Any attacking player that is found to be less than one meter from the wall when a free kick is taken will be punished and the other team will be rewarded with an indirect free kick from the immediate effect. 

The reason for this change is to avoid time-wasting and disturbances between players that might result in a physical argument.

2) Goal kicks

The nature of goal kicks has changed which has altered the dynamic of restarting the game.

Earlier, the ball was deemed 'dead' until and unless it left the penalty area, but a new change means that the ball is in play as soon as it is touched and it can be also be played inside the 18-yard box.

3) Substitutions: Players need to leave the nearest point.

The rule-makers have struck another blow against cynicism in the game by introducing a change to the substitution protocol.

Players who are being taken off and replaced must now leave the pitch by the nearest point on the touchline, i.e., we will no longer be forced to wait for them to walk to the substitute.

4) Kick-off: From now on, the team that wins the toss has the choice of picking which half to attack or to take first Kick-off. 

Since a goal can be scored directly from Kick-off, this rule comes in handy.

5) Yellow & red cards for coaches

To deal with difficult behaviour from coaches who don't see eye to eye with the referee or their opposite number, officials will now be able to show the yellow and red cards.

For example, if the offending individual cannot be identified for punishment in the case of a touchline melee, the senior coach who is in the technical area will automatically be the default recipient.

6) Handball: Accidental offenses will be deemed as free kicks

Basically, the changes will mean that there will be no goal in occasions where the ball accidentally strikes a player's hand before crossing over the line.

Similarly, if a player accidentally handles the ball and creates an advantage or subsequently scores, the player's team will be punished with a free-kick.

7) Penalty kicks: Goalkeepers need to have at least one foot on the line.

The update dictates that the shot-stopper must not be moving or touching the goalposts.

The new rule change also states that the goalkeeper should have at least part of one foot on or in line with the goal-line.