Fifa to ratify new rules

[François]

Fifa to ratify new rules

By Andrew McKenzie of the BBC



Fifa looks set to bring in several new rules when the International Football Association Board holds its 2004 annual general meeting in London on Saturday.
Among the issues under discussion will be limiting substitutions in international friendlies, and extending half-time to a maximum of 20 minutes.

The governing body could impose tougher rules on players removing shirts.

England's rule where free-kicks are marched back 10 more yards for dissent could be introduced around the world.

BBC Sport takes a look at the main items on the agenda.


RESTRICTING SUBSTITUTIONS
Fifa plans to change the present rule for friendly internationals where the two teams determine how many substitutions they can use during a game.

World football's governing body wants to clamp down on this by introducing a limit of five subs during a game.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter says that the limit should apply to friendly matches because "if you can be capped and you sell tickets, the public is asking for one match, not for two matches".

The proposal has been criticised by England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson, who made nine changes in the recent friendly against Portugal.


LENGTH OF HALF-TIME
Fifa is proposing to extend the maximum time allowed for half-time from 15 minutes to 20 minutes.

It would not be compulsory - individual competitions will continue to be allowed to determine the length of the interval in their own games.

But 20 minutes would be the maximum instead of 15.


REMOVAL OF SHIRTS
Fifa is to stamp out on players removing their shirts after scoring a goal.

Any player who takes off his jersey when celebrating a goal will be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.


ADVANCING THE BALL AT FREE-KICKS
The Football Association (England's governing body) has put forward a proposal to help referees control games and improve sportsmanship in games.

If a player fails to retreat 10 yards, delays the restart by carrying, throwing or kicking the ball away, shows dissent or indulges in any sporting behaviour after a free-kick is awarded then the free-kick will be advanced 10 yards.

The only change to this rule from how it has been used in England would be that, if the advancement takes the ball into the penalty area, the free-kick will be taken at a point just outside the area nearest the point where the advancement would have crossed the penalty area.

The reason is that advancing the ball into the area has proved to be a disadvantage to the attacking side - as the defending team simply put every player between the ball and the goal.


INJURED PLAYERS
Fifa plans to discuss the suggestion that players who require treatment for injuries must stay off the pitch for at least two minutes.

There has been concern at the amount of time lost when play is stopped for injuries.


RADIO COMMUNICATION FOR REFEREES
The International Board will receive reports from Fifa and the Scottish Football Association on the experiment of using a radio communication system for referees in the Confederations Cup and Scottish Premier League.


ARTIFICIAL PITCHES
Fifa are proposing to allow matches at all levels to be played on artificial surfaces.

The governing body say advances in technology have created surfaces of a suitable standard for top level competition.

But if an artificial pitch is to be used for an international match or a club match under Fifa's jurisdiction it must meet a certain standard - unless special dispensation is given by Fifa.