The IFAB's planned revolution is up for debate: blue card, cameras for referees...

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The football scene could soon be changing. On Saturday, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) will sit down to discuss new rules for the beautiful game. Among them, the blue cards that have caused such a stir or the incorporation of cameras on the referees' bodies to ensure the safety of the referees.

8 months ago
The IFAB, which is responsible for defining the rules of football, will decide on Saturday on possible changes aimed at improving on-field behaviour and respect for referees, with referees wearing a body camera and only captains being allowed to address them.
Both items are on the agenda for the 138th IFAB Annual General Meeting in Glasgow, along with stricter enforcement of rules against players and coaches who engage in disrespectful behaviour and better management of crowd confrontations.
Also on the table will be the need to further develop semi-automatic offside technology to speed up refereeing decisions in these situations, and the option of temporary sending-offs with the introduction of the so-called blue card.
Although the IFAB football and technical advisory panels of the IFAB were in favour of testing it at senior level, having used it in grassroots football, FIFA has a different opinion.
For FIFA, any trial to use the blue card should be limited to testing it responsibly at the lowest levels and it will reiterate this position when the issue is debated, the body announced on 8th February.
As confirmed by the IFAB, the agenda also includes possible clarifications of the rules of the game, which would come into force on 1st July, specifically in Rule 12, to penalise hands for which penalties are awarded in the same way as fouls, and Rule 14 (Penalty),relating to the position of the ball at the penalty spot.

Another point previously agreed by the IFAB panels for consideration is the inclusion in the rules of the game as such of the communication of final VAR decisions following a review, after the tests have been made public.
Changes to the rules of the game can only be approved at IFAB annual general meetings such as the one on Saturday, which will be chaired by the Scottish FA.
IFAB decisions require a three-quarters majority for approval following the votes of its member associations, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which have one vote at meetings, and FIFA, which, representing its 207 associations, has four votes.
The IFAB understands that in this way, its five members ensure that respect for the traditions of football, together with its international reality, is preserved.

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