Irish & International Sports News, Fixtures & Results

VAR scope extended to ruling on second yellow cards

VAR's powers have been extended by football's lawmakers. Using VAR to check corners will be an option for competitions from this summer, while the core VAR protocol has now been widened to cover second yellow cards and cards awarded to the wrong team.

Soccer • 23 hrs

Goalkeepers will now be able to hold on to the ball for longer following the change of a rarely enforced rule

IFAB announce goalkeeping and bodycam rule changes

Goalkeepers will be able to hold on to the ball for eight seconds instead of six from next season after the game's lawmakers approved a significant change.

Soccer • 01 Mar 25

Trials for sin bins have been left out of IFAB's new protocols

Blue cards shunned as IFAB approve new protocols

IFAB have approved protocols designed to help referees regulate player behaviour, with referees given the option to create captain-only zones and cooling-off areas in the event of mass confrontations.

Soccer • 02 Mar 24

The Giorgio Chiellini foul on Bukayo Saka cited as an example of a blue card foul

Blue cards set to be dropped from sin-bin trials

Blue cards are set to be dropped from sin bin trials planned by football's lawmakers

Soccer • 01 Mar 24

Soccer blue card and sin-bin trial announcement delayed

Football's lawmakers have delayed plans to publish details of sin-bin trials at higher levels of football until next month.

Soccer • 09 Feb 24

Giorgio Chiellini's foul on Bukayo Saka in the Euro 2020 final has been cited as an example of a foul that would merit a blue card

Blue cards for 10-minute sin-bin to be trialled

Blue cards will be shown to players sin-binned in new trials to indicate they must spend 10 minutes in the technical area, according to reports.

Soccer • 08 Feb 24

Sin-bins have proven a hit at grassroots level

Sin-bins could be coming to professional game

Sin-bins should be trialled at higher levels of football following their successful implementation in the grassroots game, the sport's lawmaking body has agreed.

Soccer • 28 Nov 23

Changes to VAR protocols are being considered for next season

IFAB considers changes to VAR protocols for next season

VAR protocols could be altered for next season depending on the outcome of discussions set to take place over the next few weeks.

Soccer • 26 Oct 23

There will be no trial of the temporary concussion sub next season in the English top flight

Premier League's concussion sub trial rejected

A temporary concussion substitute trial in the Premier League next season has been rejected by the game's lawmakers.

Soccer • 18 Jan 23

IFAB's advisory panel says five substitutions should be implemented on a permanent basis

IFAB recommends five subs rule become permanent

The International Football Association Board's advisory panel has recommended five substitutions be implemented on a permanent basis in the sport.

Soccer • 27 Oct 21

Mario Lemina reacts after a Fulham goal against Tottenham on Thursday night was disallowed for handball

IFAB makes change to handball rule

Accidental handball that leads to a team-mate scoring a goal or having a goalscoring opportunity will no longer be considered an offence, the game's lawmaking body the International Football Association Board has announced.

Soccer • 05 Mar 21

No penalty was given after the ball appeared to hit Callum Hudson-Odoi's hand against Manchester United

More clarification expected around handball law

Further clarification on the handball law is expected from the game's lawmakers on Friday.

Soccer • 04 Mar 21

Philadelphia Union's Kacper Przybylko is evaluated for possible concussion during a MLS match against Montreal Impact in September

Concussion substitutes to be trialled from January

Football's lawmakers have approved "extensive trials" for additional permanent concussion substitutes.

Soccer • 16 Dec 20

James Tarkowski of Burnley is assessed for concussion during a match between against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in January.

'Concussion subs' to be trialed ahead of Olympic Games

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has agreed to introduce trials for concussion substitutes with FIFA set to implement them at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Soccer • 29 Feb 20

Romain Saiss of Wolverhampton Wanderers is tested for concussion after a clash

No consensus on concussion protocols ahead of IFAB AGM

A member of the expert concussion group set up to advise football's law-makers is 'pessimistic' about the prospect of 10-minute temporary concussion substitutions being piloted next season.

Soccer • 28 Feb 20

VAR, in particular, has received widespread criticism from fans and pundits alike, especially in the Premier League, where the technology is being used for the first time this term

VAR to be discussed at IFAB meeting in Belfast

World football's lawmaking body IFAB will discuss topics ranging from the use of the Video Assistant Referee and player concussion management to proposed law changes at its annual business meeting in Belfast on 3 December.

Soccer • 28 Nov 19

IFAB