Kiwis brace for new football laws
A new set of playing rules will greet footballers heading into the 2017 winter season.
The Auckland Football Federation (AFF) released a video on its website last week that outlined some of the major changes players can expect under the new International Football Association Board (IFAB) and FIFA laws.
While there are some minor changes, the most significant centres around red cards in the penalty area.
In the past, players could be red carded if they tackled an attacker who had a clear goalscoring opportunity.
AFF’s referee development officer Paul Smith said that pun- ishment, coupled with its consequences, seemed too much.
‘‘In the past, you would commit a foul in the penalty area, and if it was clearly going to be a goal, you got a red card and you were sent off,’’ Smith said.
‘‘The penalty was given, and you missed the game the following week.
‘‘They went, ‘Well that’s a triple punishment and seems a bit excessive’.’’
Now, if a player who commits the tackle is making a genuine attempt to play the ball, it will only be a yellow card.
Smith said the change had come as a response from players and coaches, and said that it was a positive step forward for the game.