At its meeting in Belfast March 1, the International Football Association Board made several key decisions.
The board decided to finalize the draft for a revised edition of the Laws of the Game, which is to be “simpler and edited in contemporary language.”
The board also decided on several amendments to the Laws of the Game, which will go into effect on July 1, 1997.
Foremost among these changes is the award of an indirect free kick if the goalkeeper handles the ball after receiving it directly from a throw in from his own team.
However, the goalkeeper may now move on the goal line before a penalty kick is taken.
The board also voted unanimously to refuse to authorize experiments with video systems to aid the referee.. The French Football Federation had requested such an experiment for the France-Sweden friendly to be played April 2.