FIFA to change rules after controversy Messi’s third goal against France sparked in silent final

The Qatar 2022 World Final between Argentina and France had it all. Goals, emotion, changing outcome and also controversial. So far, the first two penalties sanctioned by Polish referee Szymon Marciniak, who saw violations by Ousmane Dembele against Ángel Di María and Nicolás Otamendi against Randal Kolo Muani, are under discussion. However, another detail that caused debate after the consecration of the albiceleste led FIFA to act on the matter, which through the IFAB (International Football Association Board) will amend a skill-testing question.

From June 30, a series of changes will be approved and begin to take effect in world football. During the meeting held in London, where the 137th assembly was held, certain regulatory guidelines directly related to outfield players and substitutes were clarified. “Clarification regarding additional person(s) on the field of play when a goal is scored. Unlike currently, a goal should not be disallowed if a player or team member team enters the field of play, unless it interferes with the play of the goal.was the sentence.

This was of course referring to Argentina’s third conquest at the Lusail stadium against France, when Lionel Messi put his side ahead on the scoreboard in extra time in the final. Panoramic cameras showed a pair of Argentine substitutes swarming the pitch just before the ball entered the fence. The Europeans protested against this infraction, although it later emerged that the same thing had happened -for example- when stopping Back Martinez to Kolo Muani on time.

Gianni Infantino was very concerned about the constant loss of playing time that exists: “We want to improve player behavior. We must fight against wasting time. We saw that in the last World Cup a lot of time was added for this reason”. During this time, he contemplated, “We want the addition of necessary time to be a universal and consistent rule. Don’t start and forget. We want all referees to know that everyone must add the necessary time. Loss of time due to injuries, changes…”. It was also said, according to information collected by the Spanish media Brand: “Each team must have a captain who wears an armband at all times.”

Among other new regulations and clarifications, it has been defined that goal celebrations They will be a cause of additional time that the referees will now have to take into account. Infantino, who urged “Watch out for the referees” mistreatment inflicted on the public in general because many are those who give up exercising this profession, he also noted the amount of changes available to each team per match (five): “There is a disagreement on this issue. We have decided to put player health first. We are waiting for them to give us the solution, but the most important thing is the health of the athlete. Everyone is under pressure, referees, coaches, players… but the most important thing is health. If the referee considers that there is a risk, he stops and there is no other solution.

Further away? The fourth referee can assist the main referee in the same way as other “match officials” in the field of play, goalkeepers cannot distract the attacking player who takes the shot during a penalty shoot-out either delaying execution, touching the posts, crossbar or net (“anti Dibu Martínez rule”) and defenders who foul inside their own box will be penalized the same way (without warning) whether the ball is in dispute or not. A penalty that avoids a promising attack or an obvious goalscoring situation will be penalized with a yellow card.

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