New countdowns on throw-ins and goal kicks, alongside 10-second limits on substitutions, could be introduced at this summerâs World Cup as footballâs rulemakers aim to keep the tempo of matches flowing.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB), which oversees the laws of the game, is building on the positive reception of an eight-second limit for goalkeepers to release the ball from their hands. Referees could soon be empowered to impose a five-second countdown on dead ball goal kicks and throw-ins if they feel players are taking too long.
Substitutions have also been identified as a potential disruption to the pace of matches. Under the proposed rules, substitutes could be restricted to 10 seconds to enter the field. If the limit is exceeded, they could be barred from entering for a fixed period, potentially up to a minute. Injured players may also be required to remain off the pitch for a set period, aiming to deter teams from exploiting stoppages.
When asked whether these measures could be implemented at the World Cup in North America, IFABâs technical director David Elleray said:
“They could be, yes.”
Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney, who chaired IFABâs annual business meeting in London on Tuesday, added:
“We all get frustrated when we see a game stopped, and we’re [all] suspicious if the game has been stopped for the right reasons, [or if it has been] done for tactical reasons, and so on. So we really wanted to focus on that, certainly this year, and we’ve got a number of measures that I think will make the game much better.”
The meeting also proposed expanding VAR reviews. Red cards resulting from factually incorrect second yellow cards, or incidents where the wrong team is penalised for an offence, could be reviewed. Competitions may also have the option to review corner kicks, provided this can be done without delaying the restart.
FIFAâs refereesâ chief Pierluigi Collina is a strong supporter of corner kick reviews, which are expected to feature at the World Cup, although broader support remains limited.
Trials of a âdaylightâ offside law, championed by former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, will continue. Under this trial, a player is onside if any part of their body that can score is level with the second-last defender. A modified version, where only the torso is considered, could also be tested.
Wenger, now FIFAâs chief of global football development, said:
“For years offside has been about the most forward part of a player’s body, so to judge on the torso would be a change â and you have to decide what the torso is. We have to try the radical solution first and see if we need to come back from it.”
Boluwatife Enome
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