Kiwis brace for new set of rules

A new set of playing rules will greet footballers heading into the 2017 winter season.

The Auckland Football Federation (AFF) has just released a video on its website outlining some of the major changes players can expect under the new International Football Association Board (IFAB) and FIFA laws.

The changes came into effect for most of the global football community in July last year; however, local New Zealand competitions only enforce the rules at the start of each winter season in March.

While some minor changes include the ball being able to travel backwards from the halfway restart, as well as stricter equipment rules, the most significant change 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 goal-scoring opportunity. AFF’s referee development officer Paul Smith says that punishment, 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 says.

‘‘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 says the change had come as a response from players and coaches, and it is a positive step forward for the game.

‘‘Referees don’t like sending players off because it has an immediate impact and changes the way the game is played,’’ Smith says.

Western Springs footballer James Debenham says the change will not have an enormous impact on how defenders play the game, however he agrees on the need to reduce red cards.

‘‘It is never fun receiving a red as an individual.

‘‘It also ruins the game from a spectator point of view when a player goes off. So that could be where a more positive impact is seen.’’