This summer will see the introduction of new football rules approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) over the weekend, according to lrytas.lt
These changes are outlined on the official association website and highlight four important changes to the rules. No, of course, football will remain unchanged - the ball, players, goalposts, referees, and spectators remain, but from the summer it will be seen that the usual view and familiar interpretation of the rules are no longer there.
The first rule change is related to handball. If a footballer scoring a goal accidentally touched the ball with their hand or if it hit their hand and went into the goal, it will be considered a rule violation. The second rule that has been changed is particularly visible in football: a substituted player must now leave the field not where the fourth official indicates the number of the substituted player and the numbers of the players running onto the field, but where the touchline is closest.
This means the substituted player simply runs towards the nearest touchline, crosses it, and appears on the field as appropriate - once allowed by the fourth official. The third change in the rules indicates that players of the attacking team taking a penalty kick cannot form a defensive wall. So, only members of the defending team will form the "wall." However, the opponent can set up their own "wall" in front of them to make visibility more difficult.
The fourth change allows the goalkeeper attempting an 11-meter penalty kick to stand on the goal line with only one foot, not both. This will give them both mobility and the opportunity to react better to the shot.
It has also been confirmed that from the summer referees will be able to show yellow and red cards not only to players, but also to coaches - if a coach behaves improperly, insults, or takes physical action against others. Another contentious issue has been resolved: if in the past the ball hit the referee and changed the direction of movement, but the match was not stopped, now the game will be stopped and a dropped ball will be played.
lrytas.lt
