IFAB sets out AGM agenda

The agenda has been published for the 128th annual general meeting (AGM) of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at FIFA headquarters in Zurich on Saturday 1 March.

IFAB, which comprises world football's governing body and the four British national associations – England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales – will discuss proposals to alter Law 4 of the Laws of the Game. This pertains to players' equipment, firstly in terms of the use of head covers after the two-year trial period unanimously approved by IFAB in 2012, and secondly in relation to slogans or advertising on undergarments.

IFAB will also review a proposed amendment to allow for greater flexibility in the use of substitutions in amateur/recreational football and will look at Law 8 – The Start and Restart of Play: dropped ball; Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct: handling the ball; plus the use of electronic performance and tracking systems.

Other items included for discussion at this year's AGM, but which are not yet at the stage of being considered for decisions in terms of alterations to the Laws of the Game, are: sin bins in recreational football, sending-off offences ("triple punishment"), and the potential use of video replays to support match officials.

The AGM follows the foundation meeting of IFAB on 13 January, which resulted in the body becoming an independent association under the Swiss Civil Code. These changes will enable two new advisory panels – the Technical Panel and the Football Panel – to be part of the deliberations for the first time.