FIFA’s Surprisingly Logical Rules Updates for the World Cup | OneFootball

In a rare display of common sense, FIFA have this week reacted to some of the games modern ills by introducing new laws ready for the World Cup.

As discussed in this week’s Road to World Cup 26 podcast, part of the Hooligan podcast stable, Players covering their mouths when speaking has become popular in an age where everything they do and say is scrutinised in the media and supporters to within an inch of its life.

Things are misread, taken out of context, and players know they can’t say anything to anyone on the pitch without it being picked up. Hence they started covering their mouths with their hands so no-one could lipread.

Racist abuse

Fine, until it turned out the practice was being used as a cover for racist abuse. In February Vinícius Jr claimed racial abuse against Gianluca Prestianni, The Benfica winger covering his mouth with his shirt during a Champions League match against Real Madrid.

The incident, which led to the game being halted for 10 minutes in line with protocols and Prestianni later banned for six games, forced the authorities to consider it and rather than turn a blind eye they have acted. It’s a strong move by FIFA.

It’s important to note that not all incidents of players covering their mouths will be an automatic red card. Players talking to teammates covering their mouths should still allowed. But this law gives the referee, powerless until this week, the authority to issue a yellow or red card if he or she feels it warranted.

Red for leaving pitch

In another smart move, referees will be able to send off any player – or indeed a whole team – if they leave the pitch in protest of what they perceive to be a poor decision.

This is in direct response to the African Cup of Nations final in January, where the Senegal team walked off the pitch in the 98th minute after Morocco were awarded a penalty.

When play eventually restarted Senegal went on to win the tournament, but the Confederation of African Football (CAF) then stripped them of the title because of their behaviour. FIFA officials were furious about the hit to the game’s reputation and moved to act fast.

World Cup yellow card amnesty

And in a hat trick of sensible moves, FIFA has tweaked World Cup rules on yellow cards to bring in an extra amnesty during the tournament. Single yellow will now be cancelled after the group stage and after the quarterfinals.

At the last World Cup in Qatar, players had to serve a one-game ban if they were shown a yellow card in two different games, but single yellow cards were cancelled at previous tournaments after the quarterfinals stage. That ensured no player would miss the final for getting a yellow card in the semifinal.

With more games at this World Cup because of an expanded 48-team tournament, there’s an extra knockout round therefore much greater chance of players picking up yellows.

Now, records will be wiped after the group stages, in preparation for the knockout rounds, and again after the quarter finals, ensuring that anyone booked in the semi won’t miss the final.

The easiest thing of course would be not to have any action on yellow cards outside the actual game. They are punishment enough on the pitch. But small steps I guess are better than none.

Next to address: Goalkeeper time wasting

This is all good work by FIFA and IFAB. Next they need to turn their attention to goalkeepers feigning injury to have a tactical time out.

It’s become commonplace for a keeper to hit the deck for no apparent reason, trainers to come on while the other 10 players huddle round the coach to receive instructions. It’s so blatant no one even bothers hiding it anymore.

Because goalkeepers have special dispensation and, unlike outfield players, don’t have to leave the pitch for 30 seconds after receiving on-field treatment, it’s an east way to force a break.

But it’s well against the spirit of the game, which is one thing FIFA is always banging on about. If they were serious, they would act.

The easiest thing to introduce is insisting that an outfield player must remain off the pitch for 30 seconds if the goalkeeper feels like he needs treatment. And in cases – very rare cares let’s face it – that the goalie is genuinely injured, well so be it. This isn’t something that would be needed if players hadn’t started using it to gain an unfair advantage in the first place.

FIFA and IFAB are on a roll – don’t stop now.