Often known as the ‘last man’ rule (it’s nothing to do with being the last man), the punishment for ‘denying a goalscoring opportunity’ has always been excessive.
Not only do the team lose a player (and then usually a substitution as well) but if the infraction happens in the box, they also face a penalty – a move which always restored the goalscoring opportunity anyway. The player then serves a one-game suspension.
Finally, the authorities have seen sense!
At the AGM of the International Football Association Boar (IFAB), they have decided to revise the law.
The decision was a special item on the AGM agenda and new wording for the Law (Law 12) was approved unanimously.
It now reads:
As you can see, if a penalty is awarded, the offence is no longer automatically punishable by a straight red card.
This will now be implemented globally for a two-year trial period when it will be reviewed by the IFAB.
IFAB’s role in life is to ‘discuss and decide upon proposed alterations to the Laws of the Game.’
‘FIFA and the UK-based associations (English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish FAs) can propose matters to be discussed and ratified at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), which usually takes place in February or March.’