Controversial Triple Punishment Not On Agenda Of IFAB's Next Meeting In March

The controversial "triple punishment," where a player gives away a penalty, is sent off and automatically suspended, "has been left off the agenda" for the next meeting of football's rule-making body, according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. The Int'l Football Association Board will, however, "discuss proposed changes to the drop-ball and offside rules," which FIFA hopes "will make referees' decisions more clear-cut and less open to interpretation." IFAB "will also review the additional linesmen" who have been used by UEFA but shunned by FIFA, when it meets in Edinburgh, Scotland on March 2. The so-called triple punishment "is invoked when a defender or goalkeeper denies an opponent a clear-scoring opportunity in the penalty area." In addition to conceding a penalty, he "is automatically sent off and misses at least the next game." Critics complain that "such decisions can end matches as a contest or completely change the course and that a penalty would suffice in cases where the foul is not violent" (REUTERS, 2/4).