Unpacking new FIFA rules

With the reelection of FIFA president Gianni Infantino until 2023, the dominant football organism implemented new rules that will take action immediately.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) made some significant changes in certain jurisdictions of the game. Some of those new rulings are necessary, some others are indifferent, but there’s precisely a couple that will change the game drastically.

Let’s begin:

-In the rubric of necessary rules, every offensive handball that ends in a goal will be sanctioned. The deliberation of the handball-scoring situation will no longer exist. A goal with the hand should never count; it’s taking advantage of the only part of the body that can’t have any contact with the ball. The IFAB acted correctly in eliminating every contact with the hand that could finish inside the net.

-Another wise decision is to grant a drop ball to the last team that had possession of it. The drop ball stopped being competitive long ago. It was seen more like a fair-play gesture. From now on, if a play is interrupted, the drop ball will go to the last team that played it. If this happens inside of the box, the ball will automatically belong to the ‘keeper. And in case the ball hits the main referee, the game will be renewed with a drop ball applying the same concepts of the past rules.

The drop ball action and the offensive handball won’t change the outcome or essence of the game. These are fair rulings that could be applied in the modern game without any problem.

-Nevertheless, FIFA also added insignificant regulations into football. For example, the referee will show cards to the coaches, a measure that comes back after years. Usually, the ref had the authority to talk to the managers — as a call of attention — and expel them verbally. Now with the cards, they’ll save the dialogue but the outcome will be the same one.

-During a goal kick, players weren’t allowed to interact with the ball unless it left the box. Now, the ball can be played inside the goalkeeper’s area. Footballers will be able to touch the ball within the boundaries of the box on the goal kick.

 -The substitution protocol suffered some changes too. Every time a player is substituted, he or she will leave the field at the nearest point instead of going all to the halfway line. This rule already existed in a certain way, the player had the right to withdraw the pitch from wherever he or she wanted, and also the referee had the authority to direct the player to leave the field at the nearest point.

However, the controversy starts with the changes in the dynamic during the penalty kick. The goalkeeper will have permission to have just one foot on the line. But if the ‘keeper saves the shot or the kicker misses the chance by hitting the woodwork, the game will resume with a goal kick. The measure will be experimental in lower leagues, and depending on FIFA’s reaction, it could be implemented around the globe.

-On a free kick, players from the offensive team were allowed to stand with the wall to block the goalkeeper’s view. Now, FIFA establishes that if the ‘keeper lines up a wall of three or more footballers, the players from the other team will need to keep a distance of one meter from the wall.

-The new rules severely punish offensive handballs. Handballs inside of the box will have no mercy. Every time the ball contacts the hand of a defensive player inside the box, the referee will call a penalty kick. All the aspects of the handball call will not exist anymore — no more deliberation on the intention or distance between the hand and the rest of the body. All the hands will be punished. A player now can force a penalty kick, sort of like how a basketball player can force an offensive foul. It gives a clear advantage to the attacking squad.

The Copa America, Women’s World Cup and Gold Cup are arriving this summer. Will football drastically change with the latest questionable alterations? No, but it’ll give a different taste to it. Three major tournaments will enforce the new FIFA rules, and skepticism is always part of it. Hopefully, everything will be for the betterment of the game.

Follow Luis on Twitter: @LFulloa.

Support Soc Takes on Patreon for access to exclusive content and supporter benefits. Click here to become a patron today.