The 135th International Football Association Board (IFAB) AGM was held on Friday. The AGM discussed handball, offside and concussion protocols, among the other topics at the meeting.
The biggest headline-grabber from the IFAB AGM meeting was the clarification on handball. This has been one of the most controversial things in football after the introduction of VAR.
IFAB has now clarified that the laws and accidental handball leading to a goal will no longer see the goal revoked.
“Accidental handball that leads to a team-mate scoring a goal or having a goal-scoring opportunity will no longer be considered an offence.”
Handball should now only be awarded when:
- a player deliberately handballs
- the ball touches the arm/hand when it has made the body “unnaturally bigger”
- a goal comes directly from a handball or immediately after a handball
Another big thing is that a change to the offside rule is also being considered. This will be officialized before the next season. But the VAR will definitely be there as according to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, VAR has improved the sport.
Infantino said (via Marca): “You will not hear me say anything negative about VAR,”
“But not because I don’t want to, but because justice is everything, to have a correct decision, and I can just repeat that.”
“We have so many more correct decisions due to VAR and we need to recognise that.”
“This is the most positive impact of VAR in football.”
