Fifa consider rule changes

Five laws to be debated at annual meeting

Last updated: 5th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Fifa consider rule changes

Henry: Caused controversy

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Five potential law changes are on the agenda at the International Football Association Board's annual meeting.

The Board have the power to make any alterations that might be deemed necessary when they convene in Zurich on Saturday.

Fifa are keen for the custodians of the rules to discuss whether players who concede penalties should also be sent off.

The current triple-punishment means that somebody who denies the opposing team a goal-scoring opportunity is often red carded and handed a suspension as well as giving away a spot-kick.

Another issue is the feinting of run-ups when penalties are taken, with players currently allowed to stop and start if it just confuses an opponent rather than amounts to unsporting behaviour.

The role of the fourth official will also be looked into, as well as the use of additional assistant referees.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has backed further experimentation but has rejected calls for five officials to be used at the World Cup to help spot infringements in the penalty area.

The clamour for the extra officials at South Africa grew when Thierry Henry's handball helped France qualify at the expense of Republic of Ireland.

The subject of goal-line technology will also be debated by the IFAB, which is made up of the Football Associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, who each have one vote, and Fifa which has four.

Six votes are required for a rule to be changed.