IFAB lay down the law

By Mark Chaplin

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) - football's lawmakers - are set for a interesting round of discussions when they gather for their 2005 annual general meeting in Wales on 26 February.

IFAB members
The IFAB, comprising representatives from the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland as well as from FIFA, will be discussing amendments to various Laws of the Game. With regard to law changes, FIFA has four votes on behalf of all FIFA member associations, while the British member associations each have one vote. For a proposal to succeed, it must receive six votes.

Welsh proposal
For example, the IFAB meeting agenda includes a proposal on offside, put forward by the Football Association of Wales (FAW). The proposal is that a player would only be considered as being in an offside position if he is inside the opponent's penalty area. The present law states that a player is not in an offside position if he is in his own half.

Offside change
Any changes to the offside rule would equal the far-reaching decision taken in 1925, when it was decided that two, instead of three players from the defending team needed to be between the attacking player with the ball and the goalline inside the opposition half.

Controversial incident
Another item up for discussion on the IFAB agenda is the possible use of goalline technology to rule whether the ball has crossed the line for a goal. The issue hit the headlines again in a recent English Premiership match, when Manchester United FC goalkeeper Roy Carroll scooped the ball from behind his line against Tottenham Hotspur FC. No goal was given, which fanned the debate among pundits, coaches and players as to how referees and assistants can be helped in their tough decision-making role.

adidas design
Microchips inside balls are a current hot topic, and adidas will present a new ball type to the IFAB next month. "adidas believe that the new ball is a revolution in optimising the referee decision, and not comparable with any other existing system," the agenda says.

Technological help
The use of technology is exercising the minds of the experts and authorities in the quest to help referees and assistants. The chairman of UEFA's Referees' Committee, Volker Roth, says he welcomes technological assistance, but stops short of the use of video technology.

Roth's reflections
"With regard to the new ball that could help in deciding whether a goal has been scored or not - I have a positive view towards means of assistance if they bring us forward; for example, if there was a signal on the referee's watch," said Roth. "On the other hand, I do not like the idea of video evidence, because football is a flowing game that should not be chopped up and constantly interrupted."

Natural flow
UEFA Chief Executive Lars-Christer Olsson shares Roth's view on keeping the game moving. "I think everybody is in agreement that the flow of the game should not be interrupted, as we don't have time to analyse," he said. "It has to be technology that would be suitable for football. If there is a technology which helps the referee take the correct decision, and it's instant, then this would be preferable."

Contentious issue
Food for thought for the lawmakers as they strive to keep football in tune with the modern age without sacrificing its core rules.