Law Changes 2019-20

[7-2]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48382254

The new laws from today, but excluding tonight's game. Seems the usual mixture of good and bad changes with the emphasis being good I'd say.

Drop balls

Drop balls can no longer be contested, but the change is more positive than it sounds.

If play is stopped, the ball will be dropped to a player on the team that last touched the ball - and where they touched it. All other players must be 4.5 yards (4m) away.

What that means is if a team's attack is stopped, they will get the ball back in that position - instead of the opponents booting the ball down the field.

However, any play stopped in a penalty area will be returned to the goalkeeper, even if the attacking team had the ball.

Another big change now sees a drop ball awarded if the ball hits the referee and goes to the other team as a result, or if the referee accidentally scores a goal (as happened in the Dutch fourth division a week before the law change).

Handballs

Fernando Llorente's goal against Manchester City in the Champions League would not stand under the new laws which say you cannot score with your arm, regardless of intent

The law remains that deliberate handball is an offence. But accidental handball will also be a free-kick if...

the ball goes into the goal off an attacker

a player gets the ball using his arm or hand and then scores, or creates a goalscoring opportunity

a player's hand or arm has made their body "unnaturally bigger"

the player's arm or hand is above their shoulder (unless the player has controlled the ball onto his own arm or hand)

But a handball will not be a free-kick if...

the ball is knocked on to a hand by the player in question or a nearby player

the arm or hand is close to their body and "has not made their body unnaturally bigger"

if a player is falling and the ball touches their hand or arm when it is between their body and the ground to support the body - but not extended to make the body bigger

Another change to the handball rule relates to the goalkeeper.

If the goalkeeper attempts to clear ("release into play") a throw-in or backpass and their clearance fails, then they can handle the ball.

Ifab says this is because "when the goalkeeper clearly kicks or tries to kick the ball into play, this shows no intention to handle the ball".

Goal-kicks

Alisson will have more options to go short with his goal-kicks next season

Another change involving goalkeepers is to goal-kicks, which can now be played to a team-mate who is inside the penalty area.

The law now says the ball is considered in play once the kick is taken. Until now a goal-kick had to be retaken if it did not leave the box.

It could make a big difference to teams like Liverpool and Manchester City, whose defenders could drop into the box to receive a goal-kick from Alisson or Ederson.

Opponents must still remain outside the penalty area until the kick is taken.

Free-kicks

This would be an indirect free-kick to Brighton (in yellow) if it happened next season

When a defending team has three or more players in a wall, the attacking team can no longer place a player in or next to it.

If an attacker is standing within one yard (1m) of the wall when the kick is taken, they will be penalised with an indirect free-kick.

Another change means - similar to the goal-kick change above - if a defending team takes a free-kick in their own area, the ball is considered in play immediately and does not have to leave the box before another player touches it. Again, opponents must remain outside the box.

Quick free-kicks

If the referee is about to show a yellow or red card but the non-offending team takes a quick free-kick and creates a scoring chance, the official can come back and show the card when the ball goes out of play.

Before now, the card would have to be shown before the free-kick could be taken.

However, if the referee had distracted the offending team by starting to show the card, the quick free-kick is not allowed.

Also if the offence was going to be a red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity, but the opposition take a quick free-kick, then the player will only be booked because the other team are considered to have restarted their attack.

Penalties

The laws have changed concerning what goalkeepers can do for penalties.

The penalty kick cannot be taken while the goalkeeper is touching the woodwork or nets - or if the net or posts are still moving after being touched.

The goalkeeper must have one of his feet partly on the goalline (or above it if jumping) when the kick is taken. He cannot stand behind or in front of the line.

The other change to penalties means an attacker can take a penalty if he needed treatment (as long as the treatment is quick).

Before now, a player would have to go off the field until after the kick was taken if he needed medical help.

Substitutions

We will be seeing less of this in the future, because subs will not always be coming off where the replacement is coming on

A player who is being substituted must leave the pitch by the nearest point on the touchline or byeline - unless the referee says he can leave quickly at the halfway line - or elsewhere for safety or injury reasons.

This change is to stop players time-wasting. Any player who "infringes the spirit of this law" will be booked for unsporting behaviour.

Cards for coaches

A team official guilty of misconduct can be shown a yellow card or red card. If the offender cannot be identified, the senior coach in the technical area at the time will receive the card.

That new system was trialled in the EFL during the 2018-19 season and is now being introduced worldwide.

The other changes

A player can now be booked for celebrating - for removing his shirt or celebrating with the fans - even if the goal is disallowed.

The team that wins the pre-match coin toss can now choose whether to take the kick-off or which goal to attack - previously they could only choose which goal to attack.

There is now a difference between cooling breaks (90 seconds to three minutes) and drinks breaks (maximum of one minute) in certain competitions played in high humidity and temperatures.

Multi-coloured or patterned undershirts are allowed if they are the same as the sleeve of the main shirt.

Edited June 1, 2019 by 7-2

[Im_Rodger]

Very good summary 7-2.

Although there are a mixed bag of good and bad rule changes imo.

Will go into more detail which ones are good and bad tomorrow and why I believe they are good/bad.

[Sergeant Wilson]

6 minutes ago, Im_Rodger said:

Very good summary 7-2.

Although there are a mixed bag of good and bad rule changes imo.

Will go into more detail which ones are good and bad tomorrow and why I believe they are good/bad.

Do you know when? I'll need to plan accordingly.

[Savage Henry]

22 minutes ago, Im_Rodger said:

Very good summary 7-2.

Although there are a mixed bag of good and bad rule changes imo.

Will go into more detail which ones are good and bad tomorrow and why I believe they are good/bad.

Yeah, it's okay.  Have a day off.

[parsforlife]

Quite a lot going on this year but seems to be mostly good, as always they’ll take abit of getting used too by all.

Find the penalty rule changes bizarre, seems IFAB’s da has contributed that one.

[Oleksandr]

Handballs

Fernando Llorente's goal against Manchester City in the Champions League would not stand under the new laws which say you cannot score with your arm, regardless of intent

The law remains that deliberate handball is an offence. But accidental handball will also be a free-kick if...

the ball goes into the goal off an attacker

a player gets the ball using his arm or hand and then scores, or creates a goalscoring opportunity

a player's hand or arm has made their body "unnaturally bigger"

the player's arm or hand is above their shoulder (unless the player has controlled the ball onto his own arm or hand)

But a handball will not be a free-kick if...

the ball is knocked on to a hand by the player in question or a nearby player

the arm or hand is close to their body and "has not made their body unnaturally bigger"

if a player is falling and the ball touches their hand or arm when it is between their body and the ground to support the body - but not extended to make the body bigger

Another change to the handball rule relates to the goalkeeper.

If the goalkeeper attempts to clear ("release into play") a throw-in or backpass and their clearance fails, then they can handle the ball.

Ifab says this is because "when the goalkeeper clearly kicks or tries to kick the ball into play, this shows no intention to handle the ball".

 

 

Im glad they'v cleared up that law, should make things simpler in the future

[Karpaty Lviv]

On 01/06/2019 at 15:09, parsforlife said:

Quite a lot going on this year but seems to be mostly good, as always they’ll take abit of getting used too by all.

Find the penalty rule changes bizarre, seems IFAB’s da has contributed that one.

I don’t get it either. If part of the keepers foot has to be in line with the goal line when the ball is kicked, surely if it’s struck into either bottom corner with any sort of pace, it’s practically unsaveable? 

[parsforlife]

On 6/1/2019 at 15:09, parsforlife said:

Quite a lot going on this year but seems to be mostly good, as always they’ll take abit of getting used too by all.

Find the penalty rule changes bizarre, seems IFAB’s da has contributed that one.

going by womans world cup seems directive to refs is to be ridiculously petty with keepers for penalty's.  This if VAR is involved then your screwed, unless your timing is absolutely spot on then the shots either going in or they'll get a re-take. Encroachment roundly ignored.

[7-2]

43 minutes ago, parsforlife said:

going by womans world cup seems directive to refs is to be ridiculously petty with keepers for penalty's.

They always seem to pick on at least one new ruling to enforce very strictly for the first few months, as if to emphasise the point, before more or less forgetting about it.

[Spyro]

1 hour ago, parsforlife said:

going by womans world cup seems directive to refs is to be ridiculously petty with keepers for penalty's.  This if VAR is involved then your screwed, unless your timing is absolutely spot on then the shots either going in or they'll get a re-take. Encroachment roundly ignored.

I’d be f**ked! 

Doubt I was in my 6 yard box for half my penalty saves! 

[nsr]

Quote

The goalkeeper must have one of his feet partly on the goalline (or above it if jumping) when the kick is taken. He cannot stand behind or in front of the line.

I thought this was already the rule?

[parsforlife]

going by womans world cup seems directive to refs is to be ridiculously petty with keepers for penalty's.  This if VAR is involved then your screwed, unless your timing is absolutely spot on then the shots either going in or they'll get a re-take. Encroachment roundly ignored.

Didn’t realise they’d decided it a bookable offence as well. Absolute joke, pretty much decided that they want keepers to stand there and watch the ball go in as trying to save it isn’t acceptable.


Honestly who the f**k at IFAB thought there to be a problem with penalties being saved?

[scottmcleanscontacts]

Didn’t realise they’d decided it a bookable offence as well. Absolute joke, pretty much decided that they want keepers to stand there and watch the ball go in as trying to save it isn’t acceptable.


Honestly who the f**k at IFAB thought there to be a problem with penalties being saved?

There's nothing in the law changes to say it HAS to be a caution. I can only presume it is caught under the 'unsporting' umbrella.

[HibeeJibee]

24 minutes ago, scottmcleanscontacts said:

39 minutes ago, parsforlife said:

Didn’t realise they’d decided it a bookable offence as well. Absolute joke, pretty much decided that they want keepers to stand there and watch the ball go in as trying to save it isn’t acceptable.


Honestly who the f**k at IFAB thought there to be a problem with penalties being saved?

There's nothing in the law changes to say it HAS to be a caution. I can only presume it is caught under the 'unsporting' umbrella.

Ref was basically lecturing our 'keeper about staying on or above the line - you could see her pointing and demonstrating it. I wonder if she decided to book her for (in her eyes) ignoring it.

[scottmcleanscontacts]

Ref was basically lecturing our 'keeper about staying on or above the line - you could see her pointing and demonstrating it. I wonder if she decided to book her for (in her eyes) ignoring it.

Yeah that's pretty much what I think happened. Makes sense anyway.

[parsforlife]

There's nothing in the law changes to say it HAS to be a caution. I can only presume it is caught under the 'unsporting' umbrella.

If refs(under instruction) are forcing this under unsporting then they should be shot. There is absolutely no effort to deceive the ref or impede opponents . They could put it under ‘failing to respect the required distance at free-kick corner kick or throw in’. But this doesn’t list penalties and we never see players booked for marginal movements towards the ball at free kicks as the ball is struck, only if you deliberately stand inside 10 yards.

Ref was basically lecturing our 'keeper about staying on or above the line - you could see her pointing and demonstrating it. I wonder if she decided to book her for (in her eyes) ignoring it.

Rant and lecture all you want. But someone moving milliseconds before you want, so close that you can’t even see it has clearly not ignored you. That’s b.s.

It might not be specified in the rules but they have made a decision to book all offences here so it should have been specified.

Just another thing that players haven’t had explained. The Nigeria keeper repeatedly asked ‘what did I do?’ without answer.

Often when rule changes happen there is videos explaining what they see as acceptable and what will now be punished despite previously being legal. Looks like they haven’t done this on this ruling as they can’t find examples of keepers doing what they want! At least not successfully.

[Ginaro]

1 hour ago, scottmcleanscontacts said:

1 hour ago, parsforlife said:

Didn’t realise they’d decided it a bookable offence as well. Absolute joke, pretty much decided that they want keepers to stand there and watch the ball go in as trying to save it isn’t acceptable.


Honestly who the f**k at IFAB thought there to be a problem with penalties being saved?

There's nothing in the law changes to say it HAS to be a caution. I can only presume it is caught under the 'unsporting' umbrella.

Yes there is, and it's the same wording as last season - Law 11.2: http://www.theifab.com/laws/chapter/34/section/103/

• the goalkeeper or a team-mate offends:

  • if the ball enters the goal, a goal is awarded

  • if the ball does not enter the goal, the kick is retaken; the goalkeeper is cautioned if responsible for the offence

1 hour ago, parsforlife said:

Didn’t realise they’d decided it a bookable offence as well. Absolute joke, pretty much decided that they want keepers to stand there and watch the ball go in as trying to save it isn’t acceptable.

Honestly who the f**k at IFAB thought there to be a problem with penalties being saved?

The 2018-19 LOTG said "The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked." - the problem is that was routinely ignored by referees unless it was blatant.

IFAB's reasoning for the chance: "Allowing the goalkeeper to have only one foot touching the goal line (or, if jumping, in line with the goal line) when the penalty kick is taken is a more practical approach as it is easier to identify if both feet are not on the line"

If VAR is there to enforce the LOTG, better to give keepers some leeway by allowing one foot off the line and enforce that instead of the old law. Because you need to draw the line somewhere for goalkeepers otherwise they will take the piss.

[scottmcleanscontacts]

The 2018-19 LOTG said "The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked." - the problem is that was routinely ignored by referees unless it was blatant.
IFAB's reasoning for the chance: "Allowing the goalkeeper to have only one foot touching the goal line (or, if jumping, in line with the goal line) when the penalty kick is taken is a more practical approach as it is easier to identify if both feet are not on the line"
If VAR is there to enforce the LOTG, better to give keepers some leeway by allowing one foot off the line and enforce that instead of the old law. Because you need to draw the line somewhere for goalkeepers otherwise they will take the piss.

Fair enough, I read the law changes section and there is no mention on the IFAB site of a caution. They've clearly felt there is no reason to clarify this if there was already an existing law that sees the GK receive a yellow.

[Ginaro]

15 minutes ago, scottmcleanscontacts said:

Fair enough, I read the law changes section and there is no mention on the IFAB site of a caution. They've clearly felt there is no reason to clarify this if there was already an existing law that sees the GK receive a yellow. 

Had a look and it seems the YC was introduced in 2016-17, the reason being so that it's consistent with the YC for the kicker for illegal feinting. http://areferee.com/images/Fifalawsofthegame2016 page 45

Edited June 19, 2019 by Ginaro

[parsforlife]

Had a look and it seems the YC was introduced in 2016-17, the reason being so that it's consistent with the YC for the kicker for illegal feinting. http://areferee.com/images/Fifalawsofthegame2016 page 45

That’s shite reasoning tbh, freighting you kicker is deliberate attempt to deceive. Diving milliseconds early isn’t. Fair enough if your 3-4 yards out, but inches, c’mon.