July 1 saw the introduction worldwide of the Amendments to the Laws of the Game as approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at their meeting of February 28, in London.

There is only one major amendment which really affects actual play or rather players. It is found under Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct FA decision 6 and states:

'A player who removes his jersey when celebrating a goal must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour'.

The reason given by the IFAB is that the removal of the jersey after a goal has been scored is unnecessary and players must avoid excessive displays of celebration.

I am personally in favour of this as it is not only degrading for a player to take his shirt off and then throw it in the air, he then expects a colleague to pick it up and puts it on again with more time being wasted.

The IFAB clearly states that this is one of the excessive ways in which to celebrate and so it means a yellow card for the player responsible.

Players must be careful as the referee has no option. A yellow card must be given. There is no question of referee's opinion here.

The other changes are more administrative.

However, one breakthrough is the amendment to Law 1 as now international matches and club cup competitions may be played on an artificial surface.

Naturally, there are specific types of surfaces which have been given the go-ahead. The IFAB recognises that significant advances have been made in artificial turf technology. This decision will help countries that suffer from adverse weather conditions, where water is not in abundance or cold climates that freeze a natural grass surface in winter.

Substitutions

The IFAB has recognised the fact that farcical situations were developing in friendly international matches when coaches made wholesale changes to their teams and sometimes also fielding a whole new team in the second half.

Now in friendly internationals, or other non-competitive matches, six substitutions may be made after an agreement between the teams and once the referee is informed before the match. If no agreement is reached or if no prior notice has been given to the referee, then the original law of three substitutions applies.

It must be made clear that this applies only to friendly international or other non-competitive matches as in national leagues, competitive international and club matches there has been no change and only three substitutes may be used.

An interesting amendment is made to Law 10.

Out goes the golden, silver or whatever coloured goal and only those procedures approved by the IFAB can be used. These are the away goals rule, extra-time or kicks from the penalty mark. No other method may be used.

This will give an equal chance to teams either over a given period of time, such as two equal halves of extra-time, or the taking of the same number of kicks when a match ends in a draw.

You will notice that competition rules allow the taking of kicks from the penalty mark immediately after a match ends in a draw and not necessarily after extra time is played.

Every football enthusiast must make himself familiar with these amendments. It is of the utmost importance that journalists, supporters and administrators should know about all these amendments, however, particularly those which directly affect them.

Note: Richard Stagno Navarra is a member of the MFA media sub committee of the Referees Board.