FIFA President Blatter plans to cut friendly subs Updated: 2004-02-10 09:31
FIFA president Sepp Blatter is to try to force through new rules this month
to limit the number of substitutes in international friendlies to five players.
FIFA
President Joseph Blatter (L), speaks during a meeting of the South
American soccer Confederation (CONMEBOL) in Asuncion February 7, 2004.
Blatter spoke of the possibility of the 2014 World Cup being held in a
South American country, during the CONMEBOL's annual meeting at the Yacht
and Golf Club in Asuncion. [Reuters]
The attempt
to change the laws of the game will be made at a meeting of the International
Football Association Board (IFAB) in London and if the bid is successful, it
will have huge significance for England head coach Sven-Goran Eriksson who has
changed his entire team during friendlies.
In fact, it was Eriksson's decision to make 11 substitutions against
Australia last year which first drew Blatter's attention to the issue.
FIFA's submission to the IFAB, which will be heard on February 27 and 28,
says: 'The practice of making large numbers of substitutions in friendly matches
devalues the game and creates a farcical situation. The number of substitutes
used in friendly matches must be controlled.'
Eriksson is understood to have contacted Italy coach Giovanni Trapattoni and
France boss Jacques Santini among other international coaches to gauge their
feelings on the issue and he could instruct the Football Association to try to
block the rule change.
Each home nation has a voting place on the IFAB with FIFA also having four
votes. Any rule change needs at least six of the eight votes to become law.
The FA themselves want to see the experimental 10-yard rule - where
free-kicks are advanced 10 yards in cases of dissent or failing to retreat -
become law.
Their submission to the IFAB meeting says: 'Where it has been applied in
experiments in amateur, semi-professional and professional football matches, it
has significantly improved the quality of sportsmanship and assisted referees
controlling games.
'The risk of instant punishment of the offending team, as a result of an
individual player's misconduct, has proved to be a helpful deterrent to unfair
tactics and fair play has become much more prevalent.'
If the original offence is within 10 yards of the penalty area, then the
free-kick is advanced to the edge of the box.
Experiments have shown it proved to be a disadvantage when the free-kick was
moved actually into the penalty area.
Other matters on the agenda include proposals that competitive matches be
allowed on artificial turf, that the maximum half-time break is extended from 15
to 20 minutes, and that players who remove their shirts in goal celebrations are
automatically booked.
