Football law: Hand-ball goals from next season will be disallowed - IFAB

- Football laws have been tweaked ahead of the 2019-20 season

- IFAB confirm that these changes are effected to ensure the growth and development of the game is achieved

- One of the major highlights will be to disallow every hand-ball contributed goal whether intentional or accidental

The International Football Association Board have confirmed that some changes have been effected in the set of laws guiding the game of football across board.

According to the statement released by IFAB after their 133rd annual general meeting in Scotland, these changes were made to ensure that players attitudes on the pitch were improved.

The gathering was also meant to assess the progress of the Video Assistant Referees which has been fully introduced to a couple of top European Leagues having featured at the 2018 World Cup.

Beginning from next season, every 'Handball' assisted goal will be disallowed whether intentional or accidental.

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"For example a goal scored directly from the hand/arm (even if accidental) and a player scoring or creating a goal-scoring opportunity after having gained possession/control of the ball from their hand/arm (even if accidental) will no longer be allowed."

"This is a case where the law is catching up with what football expects to happen. IFAB technical director David Elleray explained

"When Neymar's goal in the 2015 Champions League final was disallowed because he headed the ball on to his arm, everyone agreed that that was the right decision.

Substitutes: The newly reviewed laws will compel players to exit the field at the closest touchline instead of wasting time by walking through to the half way line.

This strategy has been described as time-wasting by some members of the body regulating the rules for the game.

Free kicks and penalties: IFAB are hoping they can curb the drama with attacking players trying to unsettle defenders whenever they form a wall during free kicks.

The new rule will however have the players at advantage stay one meter away from the defending side to ensure they reduce the level of confrontations in the process.

"It leads to confrontation as the attacking players try to force a gap in the wall and delays the free-kick because the referee has to stop all the pushing and shoving," Elleray added.

Misconduct: Meanwhile, any player or club official who fails to comply with this new rule will be issued either a warning card or straight red card for misconduct.

"Yellow and red cards for misconduct by team officials and the ball not having to leave the penalty area at goal kicks and defending team free kicks in the penalty area.

Changing the dropped ball procedure: This new law states that proceedings will be stopped whenever the ball hits referee and there will be a drop ball in a situation in the game.

Unlike the present rule which allows action to continue even if the match official changes the direction a ball is going after being hit by the round leather object.

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The match official starting from next campaign will have to stop the game regardless of which of the team has the advantage in the game.

Ball must not leave the penalty area at goal kicks and defending team free kicks in the penalty area: The new IFAB laws insists that no keeper will be allowed to play goal kick outside of the box.

Regardless of where the keeper would like to place the ball, it must be within penalty area or else the referee will have to rule against the keeper.

Also, when a team is defending their opponent's free kick, and the ball did not go out of play, the goalkeeper will also have to kick the ball out from his or her jurisdiction.

Goalkeeper are required to have one foot on the line at a penalty kick: New states that goalkeepers can now have just one leg on the goal line when penalty is about to be taken.

The rule that will expire at the end of this season compelled the goaltenders to have both their legs on the line.

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During the AGM, the body also reviewed the progress of the Video Assistant Referee since it was fully introduced into football in 2018.

Meanwhile, all these changes are said to have been motivated by the success of the VAR in its first season in some of the top European Leagues.

Legit.ng earlier reported that the rules of the game which denied Nigeria what looked like a penalty during their World Cup game against Argentina have been explained.

The Super Eagles crashed out of the 2018 edition of the global football showpiece at the group stage after losing 2-1 to Argentina.

Coach Gernot Rohr needed just one point to progress through to the next stage but after 90 minutes, it was the south Americans who reached the knockout stage.

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