FIFA must simplify matters... not complicate them

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the guardian of the Laws of the Game, met last weekend in Scotland. There were no changes applied to the actual laws even though FIFA is bound to introduce an experiment.

It has agreed to add two assistant referees to what is now a trio of officials. These are to be stationed behind the goal line to focus mainly on fouls and misconduct in the penalty area.

I disagree with such a proposal, which, in my opinion, is bound to create confusion in a vital area of the ground.

There are already two officials - the referee and an assistant referee - covering the penalty area at all times. So, a third official is just not on.

What would happen if the referee waves play on when an incident happens in the penalty area and the new assistant referee decides to indicate an infringement?

We must try and simplify matters and not complicate them.

The IFAB did not make any major changes to the Laws of the Game. Yet, it has now established the exact size of a football pitch to be used for international matches. The Board has now done away with maximum and minimum sizes.

This may cause problems in some countries as pitches have always conformed to the laws but may now be bigger or smaller than what has been established.

It will also be quite an expense for associations to comply, as they must, with this decision.

In the meantime, UEFA has once again asked referees to come down hard on those players who engage in unfair play such as dangerous tackles and holding in the penalty area.

It has called for the dismissal of a player who tackles aggressively with the foot raised to injure an opponent.

It also calls for referees to be physically fit and to read the game well to ensure that they are in the right position to judge any incident.

Malta's representative at the UEFA meeting in Cyprus for new FIFA referees was Marco Borg who was awarded the FIFA badge in January.

At this meeting UEFA emphasised the necessity of punishing dissent especially by word of mouth or gestures.

A yellow card is also recommended for those players who disobey the referee's instructions in the defensive wall at the taking of a free-kick.

Increased discipline

UEFA, however, wants to increase discipline in matches it organises and it is going to ask one of the assistant referees to monitor what happens in the tunnel during half-time and at the end of the match.

It is always very important that measures are taken to increase discipline on the field of play.

The referee and his assistants, as well as the fourth official, when one is present, are the ones who are the guardians of the law and UEFA's recommendations will surely back them up in the decisions they take.