The Game Changer: IFAB's Radar for the Future of Football - Revolutionizing Player Behavior, Eliminating Time-wasting, and Unveiling Consistency

The success of football cannot be taken for granted. It is crucial to constantly evaluate and enhance fairness, health, and appeal of the game to prevent disinterest. Lukas Brud, the secretary of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), acknowledges that while football's simplicity contributes to its global success, there is still a need for continuous evolution. He affirms that football's governing body will persistently seek ways to improve and advance the sport.

Established in 1886, IFAB is the global organization solely entrusted with the task of enhancing and safeguarding the regulations of the game. Its primary objective is to enhance and progress football for players, match officials, and fans, while upholding and reinforcing the essence and straightforwardness of the sport. In an exclusive interview with We, Brud sheds light on IFAB's upcoming plans to propel football into the future.

Improved participant behavior on and around the field of play is currently one of our primary concerns," he stated.

"Our goal is to enhance the conduct of all participants, as we have noticed a decline in the recruitment and motivation of referees due to this issue.

We must ensure a sufficient number of referees, their respect, and their ability to perform effectively on the field.

Brud also emphasized the importance of technology in enhancing fairness in the game. With advancements such as goal-line technology, VAR, and semi-automated offside technology, it is likely that we will witness further integration of such technological aspects in the future.

The third aspect we are examining is the well-being of the players. Currently, an experiment on concussion substitutes is being conducted in England and the USA. Furthermore, a trial is underway in which heading is prohibited for players under the age of 12.

We are exploring methods to enhance the handling of injuries and non-apparent conditions like concussions through adjustments to the laws governing the game. While we are not medical professionals, our aim is to safeguard the medical staff and, above all, the players, ensuring they receive appropriate treatment and assessment to effectively manage such situations.

It is essential that we refrain from turning a blind eye and assuming that the prosperity of football will endure indefinitely. It is incumbent upon us to diligently assess the sport and explore avenues for enhancing its equity, player well-being, and overall appeal.

IFAB secretary Lukas Brud

IFAB keen to tackle player behaviour

At the end of April, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp had a clash with referee Paul Tierney during his team's thrilling 4-3 victory over Tottenham. Another notable incident occurred in March when Aleksandar Mitrovic received an eight-game ban for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh during Fulham's FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester United. In 2019, the FA announced the implementation of temporary dismissals, or sin-bins, in grassroots football to address player dissent towards referees. Could this disciplinary measure also be introduced in top-level football?

Brud announced that multiple ideas regarding player behavior are being considered, including the implementation of a sin-bin. A working group will be formed at IFAB, consisting of various stakeholders in the game, to explore and potentially trial new ideas for implementation in football.

World Cup approach to time-wasting?

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Time-wasting in the Premier League was a widely discussed subject during the previous season, particularly in light of FIFA's stricter measures implemented during the World Cup in Qatar.

Last season, the average ball-in-play time in the Premier League reached its lowest point since records began in the 2012/13 season, standing at 54 minutes and 46 seconds. This is 22 seconds less than the previous season and a significant one minute and 57 seconds lower than the peak observed in 2013/14, which was 56 minutes and 43 seconds.

This decline can be attributed to various factors including additional substitutions and the implementation of VAR. However, considering the current average of eight minutes of stoppage time per Premier League game, is this sufficient? It is worth noting that this figure is also at an all-time high. While the examples witnessed at the World Cup indicate that more extra time might be necessary, the prevailing viewpoint is to address this issue by increasing the additional time rather than adopting more drastic measures such as stopping the clock or reducing match duration to 60 minutes.

Brud stated that they have already investigated various matters from 2017 and 2018. The main objective is to ensure fair distribution of time for both teams, providing them with equal amounts.

There are several ideas being considered, such as adding extra time at the end of the match like in the previous two World Cups, or implementing a more extreme approach by stopping the clock every time the ball is out of play.

At present, we have determined that the most logical approach is to thoroughly investigate the lost time and append it to the end of the game.

Despite it being an uncommon sight for viewers to witness a significant amount of added time, we have observed in the previous two World Cups that this is, in fact, the most effective solution as it avoids the need for altering any regulations. It successfully fulfills all the desired objectives and resolves the issue at hand. Consequently, for the time being, this will continue to serve as the primary concept moving forward.

The battle to stay consistent

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Referee Said Martinez displays six minutes of injury-time during the World Cup

Consistency is a major challenge in football, particularly when it comes to officiating and interpreting the rules of the game.

Using time-wasting as an example, Brud highlighted the ongoing difficulty of achieving a consistent interpretation of football laws worldwide.

"When discussing this matter during our previous Annual General Meeting, FIFA, as the representative of the football world, displayed a strong commitment to fostering adherence to these identical principles among all associations, confederations, and competitions.

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English referee Michael Oliver indicates to his wristwatch as he stops play and time for an injury to Saudi Arabia's Abdullah Madu at the World Cup in Qatar

It is merely a suggestion, without any specific time requirements mandated by the law. However, the existing laws do allow for the addition of extra time. The main objective is to ensure a fair amount of additional time is given at the end of the game, discouraging players from wasting time or taking strategic breaks.

Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that players may occasionally require some time to recuperate or utilize a longer duration for executing a free-kick or corner-kick, as they need to recover within that period.

"We cannot be too intrusive in the game in this regard."

It's always a challenge to have a consistent interpretation of the laws around the world of football.

IFAB secretary Lukas Brud

'We never dismiss an idea'

We presented the game to Brud, who was impressed by the implemented changes. He disclosed that all ideas suggested to IFAB are taken seriously and thoroughly explored, no matter how unconventional they may seem.

"We welcome and thoroughly assess ideas that are presented to us," he stated.

"One notable case was when we experimented with a revised penalty kick order, transitioning from the AB format to ABBA. Although there was speculation that this change could enhance the fairness of penalties, it ended up causing significant confusion. Ultimately, we concluded that while it was worthwhile to trial, we have no plans to adopt it in the future."

"We are open to exploring different areas and conducting trials to address existing problems. While the order of penalty kicks may not be a major issue, we believe it is crucial to address any challenges that arise in order to enhance the fairness, attractiveness, and player health in the game. We never dismiss ideas without careful consideration. We assess them in relation to the existing laws of the game, seeking opportunities for improvement through potential adjustments, interpretations, or additions to embrace new ideas."

'We need to keep looking at improvements'

It is clear IFAB is open to new ideas and implementing them if they are right for the game.

The game of football remains open to adopting new formats if necessary, while still striving to maintain its current success and traditional essence. Brud emphasized the importance of closely monitoring the future of football and exploring potential developments in the laws of the game.

"We cannot ignore the need for continuous assessment and enhancement of the game to ensure its ongoing popularity. It is important to identify and address any opportunities for improving fairness, well-being, and appeal, thus preventing a decline in interest.

"This is a matter of great importance to IFAB, who are closely examining global trends. While it is not feasible to monitor every match, we actively observe and address significant advancements. Ultimately, the key to the future of football lies in its simplicity, which is integral to its success."

We must maintain the simplicity of the game while also addressing fairness, with VAR serving as a good example. However, our aim is to preserve the essence of football as much as possible. If there are opportunities for improvement or the need for different formats in the future to sustain its success and intrigue, football, and those of us who serve it, will be open to exploring new possibilities.

Together with FIFA, the British associations, and all stakeholders worldwide, IFAB is committed to finding solutions.