International Board approves changes to rules for next season

The International Football Association Board have published some drastic changes to the laws of the game in regards to offences inside the penalty box that warrant a sending off.

The previous instances that would see a player sent off included denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity through taking out an opposing player or stopping play with a handball.

Regardless of if they incident was intentional or accidental, the player would be immediately sent off and a penalty awarded to the attacking team.

The changes implemented mean that an accidental handball or other unintentional infringement would see the player simply cautioned rather than given his or her marching orders,

Players who intentionally play at the ball with their hands (read: Luis Suarez) or bring down an opponent with a clear goal scoring opportunity (read: Mathieu Flamini) on purpose will still be given a straight red card.

The new changes open the rule to further interpretation by referees but will often save the blushes of players who strike the ball with their hands unwittingly.

The famous incident that comes immediately to mind was when Arsenal's Kieran Gibbs was sent off in place of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for hitting the ball with his hand. While it was more ball to hand than the other way around, Gibbs was still given a straight red.

Upon further review, the board also deemed that the ball may be kicked in any direction from a kick-off instead of having to go forward from a restart.

Finally the IFAB also approved a two year trial period of video technology to assist referees to be utilised in four instances: to determine if a goal has been scored, red cards, penalties and mistaken identity.

Let's hope the review system doesn't turn into The Bunker from NRL