FIFA Decides Against Bigger Goals

Results of the FIFA International Football Association Board (IFAB) Meeting held over the weekend in Rio de Janeiro

Note: all changes to be implemented July 1.

*There will be no experiment with larger goals.

*The advantage rule will be changed to allow referees who use it to stop play and award a free kick if no advantage occurs. A directive will be issued stating the maximum time the referee can allow play to continue before awarding the free kick.

*Linesmen will be renamed referee’s assistants.

*The fourth match official will be allowed to report disciplinary incidents to the referee after a match has finished.

*The number of substitutes on the bench will increase from five to seven, but the number that may be used in a game will remain at three.

*Matches will not be replayed because of T.V. evidence.

*The experiment with kick-ins instead of throw-ins in the Belgian Second Division will continue for another season.