The Int'l FA Board is "looking to make penalty shootouts even more unpredictable by adopting the format used for tiebreakers in tennis," according to the PA. Teams currently alternate in shootouts, but the IFAB said that research shows the first team taking kicks has a 60% "chance of winning." IFAB is seeking trials in the lower levels of football with a new pattern that would see the "order mixed up between teams A and B to AB-BA-AB-BA-AB." This "mirrors tennis," where after the first point in tiebreaks, the opponent then serves the next two points and so on. Scottish FA CEO Stewart Regan said after Friday's IFAB meeting, "We believe that the ABBA approach could remove that statistical bias and this is something that we will now look to trial. It would mean the first 10 kicks are taken under the ABBA system and then when it gets to next-goal-wins then it would revert to alternate penalties.'' There is a "more immediate change" coming on regular penalties in matches starting in June, with yellow cards no longer awarded for "stopping a promising attack" if there was a clear attempt to play the ball. Another change "could be seen later this month" in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, when teams will be allowed to make a fourth substitute in extra time. The IFAB, "once a conservative institution reluctant to change the rules, is now willing to offer flexibility to individual countries to tweak the laws." The panel features the four British nations and four FIFA voters. It requires the approval of six people for a motion to pass. Temporary dismissals known as "sin bins," regularly used in rugby, will now be allowed for yellow card offenses in youth, grassroots and disability football. At its meeting, the IFAB gave national federations the freedom to decide how many substitutions are allowed in "lower levels of football." The meeting also approved "further testing of video assistant referees" (PA, 3/3).
DEMENTIA STUDY: In London, Martyn Ziegler reported FA CEO Martin Glenn confirmed the "first live trials of video assistant referees in English football will take place in the FA Cup from the third round" onward next season. FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that he is "aiming to have video assistants in place for next year's World Cup in Russia." Glenn also revealed that the FA and Professional Footballers' Association are to "commission a major study into historic research of possible links between heading the ball and dementia, which will cost a six-figure sum." Glenn said, "We're obviously taking it seriously, but one has to be proportionate. And the research that we're scoping out right now along with the PFA ... is really to look at one simple thing, which is: Is the incidence of dementia greater in professional footballers, or former professional footballers, than it is in the population as a whole? Actually, you need lots and lots of data on that -- and this will be a six-figure study" (LONDON TIMES, 3/4).
WORTH THE TROUBLE?: Also in London, Andrew Warshaw reported a "leading FIFA official has rubbished links between dementia and football" -- just as the FA announced a "massive" investigation. FIFA Joint Deputy Secretary General Zvonomir Boban, a former Croatian footballer, suggested "more research would simply be a waste of time." Boban said, "There is nothing conclusive that we can take from all this research. FIFA have been looking into this for 16 years with universities and medical entities and there is no link between dementia and football. I have let Martin Glenn know about our research, which involved considerable investment. Obviously we have to be aware of the potential risks but until now there is no risk at all" (DAILY MAIL, 3/4).
INFANTINO 'VERY CONFIDENT': REUTERS' Martyn Herman reported Infantino said that "all the referees likely to officiate in Russia next year had been tested with VAR technology." Infantino said, "The signs are encouraging. The little hiccups we have seen are to do with the training of the referees. It is realistic (for the World Cup) because of the experiences we had at the Club World Cup in Japan in December. For the top referees it is not a big change and they have learned very quickly. I'm very confident about it" (REUTERS, 3/4).
