The latest Liverpool news as governing body IFAB reportedly have three new rule changes in mind that could impact Premier League and Champions League football
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Updated 20:05, 05 Dec 2024
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Premier League officials could be enforcing altered rules according to the latest reports on IFAB (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
(Image: Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Innovation in football has seen a number of rule changes and technologies introduced that continue to play a major part of competitions Liverpool seek to win. Now, the Reds and their rivals have been made aware of three new proposals to shake things up once again.
At the forefront of the sport, the Premier League and Champions League have implemented great change in recent years to enhance the way the sport is officiated. For example, both competitions make use of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) in the modern-day, and very soon both will have full access to semi-automated offside systems.
Changes such as these are always developed and tested by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), who are officially recognised by world governing body FIFA to oversee developments. However with the introduction of technology they have found reason to alter the actual laws themselves in recent years.
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As reported by BBC Sport, there could be three new rule changes on the way teams like Everton and Liverpool would have to be aware of. Here, the ECHO analyses these updates...
Tactical time-outs
IFAB are reportedly concerned with the number of times goalkeepers are going to ground so that they can receive treatment. Unlike outfield positions where players who show signs of injury can be taken to the sidelines, irreplaceable goalkeepers force a pause in the match.
After seeing an increase in this happening, the organisation's chief executive David Elleray has said: "We're monitoring that. It's not easy to deal with because the goalkeeper has a right to be treated.
"We noticed it developed a couple of years ago and sometimes it's used very much as a tactic when a player gets sent off. It’s something that's on our radar."
So there is no active solution in place currently but it is one area of the game the Reds must be concerned about, whether that be down to their own goalkeeper or an opponent's asking for treatment.
Offside rule updated
This discussion has been advancing ever since VAR was introduced. First reviews using that technology were constantly argued about due to the subjective nature of an official drawing lines manually, now semi-automated technology is gradually being introduced.
According to the latest update, IFAB are looking at ways they can alter the law so it would 'give the advantage back to the attacker'.
Elleray commented: "We all agree that it would be nice if goals weren't necessarily chalked off for a toenail or a nose. It is part of an early debate but we are seeing if there are ways in which we could deal with the challenges."
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger - now chief of global football development for FIFA - has often been cited explaining his desire to see the offside rule changed so that if any part of the attacker's body is in line with the last defender, it would be deemed onside.
This alteration has supposedly been 'cautioned against', so with no specific proposal still as of yet IFAB seem to be taking this discussion seriously.
Eight-second margin
Lastly, IFAB are said to be eyeing another alteration that would impact goalkeepers.
Keepers like Alisson Becker and Jordan Pickford may have to be aware of how long they are able to hold the ball once catching it.
The current rule is six seconds before release must happen, otherwise an indirect free-kick is meant to be awarded to the opposite team. Trials in Premier League 2 and Maltese football divisions are reported to have 'proven effective' after it was accepted goalkeepers and referees were ignoring the law.
Instead of six seconds they have allowed eight seconds, with closer inspection from the officials. First the referee would have to raise his hand after three seconds, then a countdown would begin for the final five seconds.
This change to law is more advanced than the prior two suggestions, with BBC Sport saying it could come into force by the time of the 2026/27 campaign.