Entity makes the five substitutions in football matches definitive

The Ifab (International Football Association Board), the body that regulates the rules of football, decided to make the release of five substitutions in football matches definitive. The change had been put into practice because of the Covid-19 pandemic, in 2020. Before that, only three changes were allowed.

The entity’s assessment is that the measure was well accepted by coaches, managers and players. The three windows for substitutions to be made (beyond the range) will be maintained.

Ifab also authorized the increase in the number of athletes available on the reserve bench. It went from 12 to 15, another change supported by people heard by the technical committee of the body.

This opens the door to an increase in the number of entries for the teams in the World Cup: from 23 to 26. The decision on this will be taken by FIFA, the tournament’s organizer.

Ifab’s general meeting, held this Monday (13) in Doha, Qatar, was led by Gianni Infantino, president of FIFA, but he did not comment on the matter. The coach of the Brazilian team, Tite, is in favor of signing up 26 players.

The meeting discussed other possible future changes, but no definitive decisions were made.

One of them was about technological innovations in the use of VAR for offside, so the markings would be faster and more accurate. Members of the body also talked about possible tests for referees to explain decisions made on the field during matches, such as how to calculate playing time more fairly (taking into account stoppages) and taking sides with the feet.

But, according to Ifab, these matters will only be discussed again in the future and any testing period will have to be approved by the entity and ratified by FIFA.

Members of the entity also spoke about ways to combat the lack of respect for referees and increase their safety. For the entity, this is a global problem. One of the possibilities for change is for the judges to use cameras attached to the uniforms, initially in amateur games.

Understand what Ifab is

Ifab was created in 1886 as an entity responsible for standardizing the rules of football, in practice in the United Kingdom since 1863, but with different habits depending on the place of the match.

Since its founding, it has been made up of the four British national associations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland). FIFA only joined it in 1913. Each one has one vote in the decisions and FIFA’s represents the other 207 confederations affiliated to it.

This has already caused Ifab to be criticized for being a restrictive body and clinging to football’s past. Another complaint was about the conservatism to make changes to the rules, something that has changed in recent times. Especially when he endorsed the introduction of the video referee in 2018, an old idea that met with great resistance.

To promote debate and suggest changes, the entity created technical and football consulting panels, which include “experienced members of the world” of the ball, says the body. In practice, it is the one who produces reports and advises Ifab in decision-making regarding changes, studies or tests to be carried out.

Any changes to the rules can only be decided at the annual meetings, where the general assembly meets to deliberate and vote. It usually takes place in February or March in one of the four founding countries. But in World Cup years this can be different, as it happened in 2022. The event was held in Doha, Qatar, host of the World Cup.