Landmark football law changes in store

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
A landmark proposal that will change the face of football where clubs will be allowed to use up to four substitutes while junior and lower leagues will now be able to re-introduce substituted players, is set to be endorsed at the end of the month.

The International Football Association Board, the sole board allowed to make changes to the laws of the game, meets in its 129th annual general meeting in the Northern Ireland capital of Belfast from February 27 to March 1 where decision have to be taken on Law Three, Four and 12.

Discussions will also take place on Laws Seven and part of 12 following a proposal by the United States to stop the clock during match stoppages as well as the triple punishment following a proposal from Uefa.

However, of interest is the imminent change to Law Three following a proposal by Fifa on behalf of its associations that the number of substitutes should be increased to four when a match goes into extra time.

Fifa is a member of the IFAB together with the four British associations (English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FAs).

The role of the International Football Association Board is to discuss and decide upon proposed alterations to the Laws of the Game. Fifa and the four associations can propose matters to be discussed and ratified at the annual general meeting, which usually takes place in February or March.

Following experiments in the FA and the Scottish FA, use of return substitutions is only permitted in the lowest levels (grassroots/recreational) of football subject to agreement of the member association concerned.

Two new panels, the football advisory panel and the technical advisory panel, will also present their feedback in regard to the proposed amendments.