'Triple punishment' could end, but no fourth subs or TV ref
ByPA Sport
Updated 28/02/2015 at 14:57 GMT
Football's rule-making body, the International Football Association Board, rejected the idea of a fourth substitution in extra time on Saturday but is considering dropping the one-match ban for so-called "triple punishments".
A referee shows a red card (Reuters)
Image credit: Reuters
The body, which consists of the four British associations and four from world governing body FIFA, also wants more time to discuss video trials being carried out in the Netherlands by the Dutch FA (KNVB).
The fourth substitute proposal, requiring a change to Law 3, did not get approval but will be referred back for further analysis by IFAB's newly-introduced advisory panels.
There are concerns it would lead to demands for an even greater number of substitutions during matches.
However, one significant change to Law 3 approved allowing "return substitutions" in grassroots and amateur football following trials by the English and Scottish FAs.
Patrick Nelson, the chief executive of the Irish FA, told a news briefing afterwards: "We think this is a ground-breaking decision that will have a significant effect on the way grassroots football is played by thousands of amateur and recreational players".
The controversial triple punishment applies when a player concedes a penalty, is sent off and is then banned for one match for denying a clear scoring chance in the penalty area.
IFAB agreed, in principle, that the one-match ban was too strong a sanction and could be dropped.
Nelson explained: "IFAB agrees that this triple punishment is too harsh and we must find a solution. A proposal from UEFA that a yellow card rather than a red card should be shown was rejected.
"But after significant discussion it was agreed that FIFA's Disciplinary and Legal Committees should investigate the removal of the automatic one-match ban."
If that process is completed in time to be approved by the FIFA Congress in May, the change will come in to force next season.
The Dutch FA wanted to extend an experiment which involves a video assistant watching a TV monitor and liaising with the referee via a headset to help him make the right decision on crucial plays.
They hope to use the system in their FA Cup competition but the idea was also referred back for further discussion.
IFAB, formed in 1886, pre-dates FIFA's founding by 18 years, and is the game's ultimate law-making body with proposed changes needing a 75 percent majority to make it into the statute book.
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