FIFA approved the changes to the regulations, but ruled out the inclusion of the blue card

Football advances and IFAB (International Football Association Board, from its acronym in English), the international association responsible for defining the rules of football changes to aid the development of the game.

The body of the four UK football associations and FIFA, based in Zurich, approved a package of changes on Saturday authorizing, among the most important, the addition of a further modification in the event that a player suffers a concussion and the lengthening of the time of ball possession by goalkeepers from six to eight seconds.

The decisions, which will come into force from 1 July, were adopted at the Annual General Assembly, chaired and organized by the Scottish FA and also attended by representatives of the associations of England, Ireland, Wales and FIFA.

Furthermore, the possibility of introducing the blue card, which had been proposed as a measure to limit the players’ protests towards the referees and which would imply expulsion for 10 minutes, was excluded.

Changes in legislation

• Only the captain of a team will be able to approach the referee in certain situations.
• Cooling down periods will be introduced to allow the referee to ask teams to go to their area.
• The time limit within which goalkeepers can have the ball in their hands will be increased to eight seconds. Otherwise, possession will pass to the opposing team.
• Rule 3 (Players): Additional permanent concussion substitutions will be an option in accordance with the necessary protocol.
• Rule 4 (Equipment): Players will be responsible for the size and suitability of their own shin guards, which remain a mandatory part of their equipment.
• Rule 12 (Fouls and Misconduct): Handball violations that are not intentional and for which sanctions are imposed shall be treated in the same manner as other fouls.
• Rule 14 (penalty kick): a part of the ball must touch or go beyond the center of the penalty spot and the invasion of players on the pitch will only be sanctioned if it has impact.