The International Football Association Board [IFAB] hold their 131st Annual General Meeting at Wembley Stadium today, and their effectiveness will certainly be felt in next weekend’s Emirates FA Cup quarter-finals.
As part of a two-year trial, clubs whose last-eight ties run into extra time will be permitted to use a fourth substitute.
In order to best analyse the suitability of the concept, each quarter-finalist will be asked for detailed feedback including the positional impact of the fourth substitute, the medical staff’s appraisal of that player’s welfare and, if applicable, their performance in a penalty shootout.
Upon the announcement last year, The FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: “With The Cup now adopting a straight knockout format from the quarter finals onwards, the introduction of a fourth substitute in extra time will bring extra intrigue and interest.
“Also, from a technical point of view, it will be interesting to see how managers use the chance to make an additional substitution in such high-profile games and the impact it has on the final result.”
Among the topics on the agenda for the game’s law makers this year are the progress on experimental introduction of video assistant referees and sin bins.
Emirates FA Cup Rule 15(c)