Greg Dyke and David Gill are in attendance at the 129th annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board, which kicked off in Northern Ireland on Friday.
The FA Chairman and vice-chairman travelled to the Culloden Hotel in Craigavad, near Belfast, for the meeting of world football’s leading law-makers.
What is IFAB?
- Established in 1886
- Set up to discuss and decide upon proposed alterations to the Laws of the Game
- Meets annually to discuss and vote upon amendments - FIFA has four votes
- The remaining votes are taken up by the 'home' nations of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales
- For a motion to be successful it must receive at least three-quarters of the vote
The summit follows on from the inaugural meetings of two new advisory panels – a Technical Panel and a Football Panel – which convened in November 2014 in conjunction with the IFAB annual business meeting (ABM) held in Belfast.
At the AGM, a decision is expected to be taken on a proposal presented to the IFAB by FIFA on behalf of its member associations and confederations to amend Law 3 of the Laws of the Game to allow a fourth substitution in extra time.
Also up for decision in relation to Law 3 is a proposal to allow for greater flexibility in the use of substitutions in grassroots/recreational football, after successful experiments were conducted by The FA and the Scottish FA.
Furthermore, a decision is expected to be taken by the IFAB on the so-called ‘triple punishment’ (Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct, Sending-off offences) with a proposal from UEFA to be reviewed, as well as the use of electronic performance and tracking systems.
Other items on the agenda to be discussed, but not decided on, include ‘sin bins’ in recreational youth football, Law 12 with regard to handling the ball, stopping of the official match time and the potential use of video replays to support match officials.
FA vice-chairman David Gill will join Dyke for the AGM in Northern Ireland
David Gill said: “More discussions are expected in Saturday’s meeting.
"The football and technical advisory panels have had their say. We will see what comes out tomorrow. There are some difficult issues, some very interesting and relevant issues. Let’s wait and see what happens and have a further discussion tomorrow.
“I think Greg Dyke has come out and said he would embrace [a video technology trial]. I have said in certain circumstances I would look at it and I think we can’t live in the past.
"We have got to move forward, the game is getting much quicker. The television coverage has 28-30 cameras a game and everything is replayed so how do we use that?
"My personal view is yes but it needs to be done in a sensible manner that doesn’t detract from the fast-paced quick action of football.”
Jim Shaw, President of the Irish Football Association, is chairing the event, which also has officials from FIFA, the Scottish Football Association and Football Association of Wales present.
As part of the deliberations, the IFAB will go over feedback provided by the two new advisory panels, which were established to support the board with greater expertise before decisions are passed.
The panels consist of representatives from across the world of football and meet twice a year to discuss topical matters related to the Laws of the Game.
For the full agenda for this year’s IFAB AGM, click here.
IFAB meetings take place in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in strict rotation, as well as at locations decided by FIFA in FIFA World Cup years.
The four British Associations have one vote each on the law-making body while FIFA has four votes, with a 75 per cent majority required for any law changes.
