INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BOARD
MEETING IN RIO DE JANEIRO, 9 MARCH 1996

DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION BOARD IN RIO DE JANEIRO

LAW II - THE BALL
In view of the programme to improve the quality of footballs, currently implemented by FIFA, the minimum requirements for footballs were made more stringent (circumference not more than 70.0cm and not less than 68.0cm, weight at the start of the game not more than 450g nor less than 410g).

LAW III - NUMBER OF PLAYERS
Up to a maximum of three substitutes may be used in any match played in an official competition under the auspices of FIFA, the Confederations or the National Associations. The rules of the competition shall state how many substitutes may be nominated, new from three up to a maximum of seven (previously five).

Thus, a positive development for the quality of the game by having a bigger choice of players is anticipated.

LAW V - REFEREES
In decision 7, the advantage clause was amended. The amendment seeks to indicate a timescale in which the referee may still penalise the original offence if the anticipated advantage does not develop. If the referee applies the advantage and the advantage which was anticipated does not develop at that time, the referee shall immediately penalise the original offence.

LAW VI - ASSISTANT REFEREES
As the term "linesmen" does not accurately reflect any longer the gender as well as the tasks of the linesmen who are, in actual fact, assistants to the referee, the words "linesman" and "linesmen" are to be replaced in the Law by the words "Assistant Referee" and "Assistant Referees", where applicable.

Moreover the role of the fourth official was enhanced by instructing him to make a report to the appropriate authorities on any misconduct or other incident which has occurred in the match out of the vision of the referee and the referee assistants.

By issuing guidelines to encourage an increase in the actual playing time, the Board wishes to make the games faster. The guidelines will include instructions to the referees, placing additional balls around the edge of the field, (at top level matches) speeding up substitution procedures and curtailing excessive exuberance on the scoring of a goal as well as speeding up the restart after a goal has been scored.

LAWS OF THE GAME EXPERIMENTS
It was agreed that experiments should be conducted in leagues in different continents so as to increase the perception of how the game is affected.

The "kick-in" will continue to be experimented in the Belgian 2nd Division.

The proposal to experiment with larger goals was rejected by the Board.

VALIDITY OF MATCH RESULTS
The Board supported the request to reinforce the rule according to which the referee's decision on a point of fact is irrefutable.

FIFA GENERAL SECRETARIAT
Zurich, 15 March 1996

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