WeeklySA_AdminNEW LAWS: Only a team’s captain being able to approach the referee in certain situations and increasing the time limit for the goalkeepers holding the ball to eight seconds some of the new changes
By Sports Reporter
The International Football Association Board,IFAB, approved several changes to and clarifications of the Laws of the Game relating to players in relation to permanent concussion substitutes, player equipment, fouls and misconduct, and penalty kicks during its 138th Annual General Meeting (AGM), hosted by the Scottish Football Association at Loch Lomond, Scotland.
Detailed protocols for three trials in domestic competitions below the top two tiers aimed at improving participant behaviour were approved, namely:
- Only a team’s captain being able to approach the referee in certain situations.
- The introduction of cooling-off periods to allow the referee to require teams to go to their own penalty area.
- Increasing the time limit for the goalkeepers holding the ball to eight seconds, otherwise possession will revert to the opposing team.
The current guidelines to temporary dismissals in youth and grassroots football were improved. Any potential wider application will only be considered once the impact of these changes have been reviewed.
The IFAB decided to extend FIFA’s trial where the referee publicly announces the final decisions and the reasoning after a video assistant referee (VAR) review or lengthy VAR check to other competitions. Participating competitions will require permission from The IFAB and will have to commit to following FIFA’s refereeing and technology guidelines.
The next edition of the Laws of the Game, which will come into effect on 1 July 2024, will feature the following changes and clarifications:
- 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.
Although the changes will take effect from July 1, 2024, competitions starting before that date may implement them earlier or delay their implementation until no later than the start of the subsequent competition.
FIFA confirmed that it would launch a global campaign to raise awareness of how to recognise the symptoms of concussion and treat it appropriately, while The IFAB also requested relevant medical data analyses to be provided to the subsequent AGM in line with the amendment to Law 3 regarding this topic.
In addition, members received an update on The FA’s trials with body cameras at grassroots level and with a ban on “deliberate heading” at U-12 level and below. The IFAB also received an update on the offside trial which has been undertaken at U-18 level in Italy, and agreed to further trials.
The AGM, which was chaired and hosted by the Scottish FA, was also attended by representatives from FIFA, The FA, the Irish FA, the FA of Wales and The IFAB administration. At the meeting, FIFA Secretary General ad interim Mattias Grafström was confirmed as the new chair of The IFAB’s Board of Directors.
Football is the greatest sport on earth. It is played on every continent, in every country and at many different levels. The fact that the Laws of the Game are the same for all football throughout the world, from the FIFA World Cup™ through to a game between young children in a remote village, is a considerable strength which must continue to be harnessed for the good of football everywhere.
Football must have Laws which keep the game fair – this is a crucial foundation of the ‘beautiful game’ and a vital feature of the ‘spirit’ of the game. The best matches are those where the referee is rarely needed because the players play with respect for each other, the match officials and the Laws.
The Laws cannot deal with every possible situation, so where there is no direct provision in the Laws, The IFAB expects the referee to make a decision within the ‘spirit’ of the game and the Laws – this often involves asking the question, “what would football want/expect?”
MORE WOES FOR VFA
Confidence: Recent signing of Gift Motupa a huge boost for Dan Malesela’s Baroka outfit In their bid for promotion to the elite league
By Masoja Cele
Luke warm Baroka FC will host their struggling neighbours Venda Football Academy in the Motsepe Foundation Championship. The match is pencilled for Sunday at Global Stadium, Lebowakgomo. Kick –off 15h00.
The limping Baroka who are amongst the favourites to be promoted to the DStv Premier League next season suffered a painful 2-0 defeat at Magesi last week. The Dan ‘’Dance ‘’Malesela team lost ground after long break due to the AFCON 2023, playing to a 1 all draw at Platinum City and bounce back with a 2-1 win against Pretoria Callies. In all they gathered four points from a possible nine a meagre feat for a team that is aiming to play in the elite league in 2024/25 season.
Assuredly, it’s back to the drawing board for coach Malesela with the intention of instilling lost confidence to his playing personnel. Maybe, the experience gaffer should amend his tactics as most teams seems to understand how Baroka play. Unequivocal, the former Chippa United and TS Galaxy instructor do not grandstand to mediocre display from his players.
Malesela is known to be a disciplinarian and a fan of winning carpet football. He also believes in hard working players who play according to his philosophy.
The outspoken Malesela will expect his players to stage out a bruising fight and win against the relegation threatened opponent. Bakgakga BaMphahlele have recently announced the return of their prodigal son Gift Motupa from Mamelodi Sundowns. Motupa’s professional football career was first tested at Baroka. He has signed a short term contract with the hope of reviving his declining football career. Undoubtedly, his experience and quality could boost the misfiring Bakgakga strike force.
If Motupa get a chance to play on Sunday then he would be expected to partner Kagiso Selemela and former Jomo Cosmos hard working midfielder Lefa Hlongwane to win the tie. As usually, the Baroka defence will be manned by the Namibian international experience left back Ananias Gebhardt, centre-back Lehlohonolo Nonyane and right back Tebogo Lekaba. In the middle of the park Baroka will depend on the skills of the mercurial midfielder Ntiyiyso Bombi and the speedy Thuso Mogale to bridge the opposition defence.
Nevertheless, playing against Venda FC won’t be an easy passage for Baroka. The Venda based team are fighting for their lives at the bottom of the championship. Having played twenty rounds they only amassed nineteen points with ten matches to end the campaign. It will take some miracles for Venda FC to escape the dreaded axe. Truth be told, the management of the team should shoulder all the impasse for the shenanigans be-felling the club.
The club do not have a stable project. They employ coaches with good coaching credentials however the coach would be fired before settling with the team. Think of the shrewd Johnny Ferreira, former championship winner with Richards Bay Simo Dladla, Michael Loftman and former TS Sporting gaffer Kabelo Sibiya. These mentors were never allowed enough time to explore with the team.
Back to the game current coach Joel Masutha will have to motivate his charges to play with zest and hunger. There is still more to play for in last ten remaining matches. Experience campaigners like Thabiso Nkoane , Moeketsi Sekola and goalkeeper Harold Ndlovu should punch above the weight to help Venda FC collect all three points.
