International Football Association Board

Last updated

International Football Association Board
AbbreviationIFAB
Founded2 June 1886;138 years ago (1886-06-02)
Founded at Manchester, England
TypeSelf-regulatory body
PurposeManagement of the Laws of the Game
Headquarters Zürich, Switzerland
Location
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
Secretary
Lukas Brud
Website www.theifab.com OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is an international self-regulatory body of association football that is known for determining the Laws of the Game, the regulations for the gameplay of football. It was founded in 1886 in order to establish standardised regulations or "Laws" for the gameplay of international competition, and has since acted as the primary maintainer ("Guardian") of these Laws. FIFA, a prominent governing body for football, has recognised IFAB's jurisdiction over its Laws since its establishment in 1904. [1]

Contents

IFAB is a distinct body from FIFA, although FIFA is represented on the board and holds 50% of the voting power. The founding football associations of IFAB, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales each have permanent seats on the organisation. Amendments to the Laws mandate a three-quarter supermajority vote, meaning that FIFA's support is necessary but not sufficient for a motion to pass.

History

Establishment

The Laws of the Game in 1903 1903 Laws of the Game.pdf
The Laws of the Game in 1903

Although the rules of football had largely been standardised by the early 1880s, England's Football Association (The FA), the Scottish Football Association (SFA), the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the Irish Football Association (IFA) had conflicting rules. When international matches were played, the rules of the home team's national association were used. While this solution was technically feasible, it was impractical. To remedy this, the FAs initialised a meeting on 6 December 1882 in Queen’s Hotel, Manchester in order to systematise a set of rules that could be applied uniformly to matches between the UK football associations' national teams. This was later named the “International Football Conference”.

In the summer of 1885, the English FA declared that it legalised professionalism. [2] The Scottish FA responded that it would refuse to allow professionals in its own national team, and would refuse to play international matches against an England team containing professionals. [3] The Irish FA attempted to arbitrate by proposing that "an international conference should be held each year, say, in August, to be called in turn by each national association to deal with the laws of the game, and discuss other matters of interest to Association football, and at which international disputes could be adjusted". [4]

Inaugural meeting and FIFA’s integration

The initial meeting of IFAB took place at The FA's offices at Holborn Viaduct in London on 2 June 1886. [5] The FA, SFA, FAW and IFA each had equal voting rights. It was chaired by Sir Francis Marindin, and attended by Charles W. Alcock acting as Secretary. [6] The meeting was notable for Marindin’s proposal, which outlined "That no player shall wear any kind of projection on the soles of heels of his boots with the exception of flat leather bars of an approved pattern". [6]

During IFAB’s annual general meeting (AGM) on 8 June 1912, the secretary, J.K. McDowall, scrutinised a letter that was attributed to the recently established FIFA, requesting that IFAB would invite a member of FIFA to sit on the Board. [7] The petition was analysed, and IFAB concluded that it wasn’t the right time to establish FIFA as a member, and McDowall proceeded to write a response to the organisation explaining the consensus. At a special meeting held on 25 January 1913 in Wrexham, IFAB approved FIFA’s request after a proposition by The FA was made proposing that two members from FIFA should attend the board, making FIFA the fifth member of IFAB.

Post-war

For the first four post-war IFAB meetings (1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923), FIFA was once again excluded, on account of a dispute between FIFA and the home nations regarding payments to amateur players. From 1924, the dispute had been reconciled, and FIFA resumed attendance of IFAB meetings. In 1958, the Board agreed on a voting system that would be used to this day. [8]

Since Irish partition in 1921, the IFA has evolved to become the organising body for football in Northern Ireland, with football in the Republic of Ireland being organised by the FAI. A request for the FAI to become a member of IFAB was denied at the 1923 annual general meeting. [9]

Operations

Membership

The IFAB is made up of representatives from England's Football Association (The FA), the Scottish Football Association (SFA), the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and Northern Ireland's Irish Football Association (IFA)—and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA, the International Federation of Association Football), the international governing body for football. Each British association has one vote and FIFA has four. IFAB deliberations must be approved by three-quarters of the vote, or at least six of the eight votes. [10] Thus, FIFA's approval is necessary for any IFAB decision, but FIFA alone cannot change the Laws of the Game—they need to be agreed by at least two of the UK members. As of 2016, all members must be present for a binding vote to proceed. [10]

Meetings of the board

The Board meets twice a year, once to decide on possible changes to the rules governing the game of Football (the Annual General Meeting (AGM)) and once to deliberate on its internal affairs (the Annual Business Meeting (ABM)). In FIFA World Cup years, the AGM is held at FIFA's offices; otherwise, it rotates between Northern Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland in that order. [10] Four weeks before the AGM, the member associations must send their written proposals to the secretary of the host association. FIFA then prints a list of suggestions that are distributed to all other associations for examination. The AGM is held either in February or March and the ABM is held between September and October. [11] In cases of necessity, the Board can meet in a Special Meeting in addition to the two ordinary annual meetings. As of December 2012, the last Special Meeting was hosted by FIFA in Zürich on 5 July 2012. [12]

The decisions of each year's Annual General Meeting of the Board regarding changes to the Laws of the Game enter into force from 1 July (and are binding on FIFA and on the other members of the Board, and, given that FIFA's Statutes establish that FIFA and its member associations and affiliates adhere to the Laws of the Game laid down by IFAB, those changes bind also FIFA's other member associations, FIFA's continental confederations of member associations, and the subnational entities of the national associations) but confederations, member associations and other bodies whose current season has not ended by 1 July may delay the introduction of the adopted alterations to the Laws of the Game in their competitions until the beginning of their next season. [13] As well as permanent changes to the Laws, IFAB also authorises trials of potential amendments. [14]

Panels and Subcommittees

Source: [15]

Advisory Panel

Technical Panel

Technical Subcommittee

List of IFAB Annual General Meetings

YearDateHostLocationVenueFASFAFAWIFAFIFARequired
to amend laws
Notes / references [16]
18861 June FA Flag of England.svg London Football Association Offices,
51 Holborn Viaduct
22220100%First meeting
18871 June SFA Flag of Scotland.svg Glasgow Scottish Football Association Offices,
6 Carlton Place
22220100%First meeting to amend the Laws of the Game
188825 June FAW Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg Wrexham Wynnstay Arms Hotel 22220100% [17]
18891 June IFA Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Belfast Commercial Hotel22220100% [18]
18902 JuneFA Flag of England.svg LondonAnderton's Hotel22220100% [19]
18912 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg GlasgowAlexandra Hotel22220100%
189213 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg Llandudno Prince of Wales Hotel22220100%
189310 JuneIFA Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg BelfastHotel Shaftesbury22220100%Date of subsequent meetings fixed to be the third Monday in June.
189418 JuneFA Flag of England.svg Windermere Ferry Hotel22220100%
189517 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg GlasgowAlexandra Hotel22220100%
189615 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg Aberystwyth White Horse Hotel22220100%
189714 JuneIFA Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Rostrevor, Newry Mourne Hotel22220100%
189820 JuneFA Flag of England.svg LondonFootball Association Offices,
61 Chancery Lane
22220100%
189919 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg GlasgowSt. Enoch's Station Hotel22220100%
190018 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg LlangollenRoyal Hotel22220100%
190117 JuneIFA Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Giant's Causeway, Bushmills 22220100%
190216 JuneFA Flag of England.svg Scarborough Grand Hotel22220100%
190315 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Ayr Station Hotel22220100%Date of subsequent meetings moved to the second Saturday in June.
190411 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg Bangor British Hotel22220100% [20]
190517 JuneIFA Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Killarney Lake Hotel22220100%First meeting to be held outside today's United Kingdom.
19069 JuneFA Flag of England.svg Bowness-on-Windermere Royal Hotel22220100%
19078 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Oban Alexandra Hotel22220100%
190819–20 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg Llandrindod Wells Rock Hotel22220100%
190912 JuneIFA Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Bundoran Great Northern Hotel22220100%
191011 JuneFA Flag of England.svg Brighton Royal York Hotel22220100%
191111 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Turnberry, Ayrshire Station Hotel 22220100%
19128 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg Aberystwyth Queen's Hotel 22220100%
191314 JuneIFA Saint Patrick's Saltire.svg Portrush Northern Counties Hotel2222280%First meeting to include FIFA
191413 JuneFIFA Flag of France.svg Paris Hotel Palais D'Orsay2222280%First meeting held outside Britain and Ireland.
Last meeting before the First World War.
192012–14 JuneFA Flag of England.svg Torquay Torbay Hotel22220100%First meeting after the First World War.
FIFA again excluded.
192111 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Portpatrick Portpatrick Hotel22220100%
192210 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg LlandudnoImperial Hotel22220100%
19239 JuneIFA Ulster Banner.svg Giant's Causeway, BushmillsCauseway Hotel22220100%Last meeting to exclude FIFA
192414 JuneFA Flag of England.svg LondonFootball Association Offices,
42 Russell Square
2222280%
192513 JuneFIFA Flag of France.svg Paris11 Rue de Londres2222280%
192612 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg St Andrews Grand Hotel2222280%
192711 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg Llandudno Grand Hotel 2222280%
19289 JuneIFA Ulster Banner.svg Newcastle Slieve Donard Hotel2222280%
19298 JuneFIFA Flag of France.svg Paris Fédération Française de Football Association Offices,
22 Rue de Londres
2222280%
193014 JuneFA Flag of England.svg Bournemouth Royal Exeter Hotel2222280%
193113 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Auchterarder Gleneagles Hotel 2222280%
193211 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg LlandudnoImperial Hotel2222280%
193310 JuneIFA Ulster Banner.svg PortrushNorthern Counties Hotel2222280%Rules amended to allow FIFA-hosted meetings to take place in "the territory of a Continental National Association", rather than being restricted to Paris.
19349 JuneFIFA Flag of France.svg Cannes Hôtel des Anglais 2222280%
19358 JuneFA Flag of England.svg Shanklin Daish's Hotel2222280%
193613 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Troon Marine Hotel2222280%
193712 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg LlandudnoImperial Hotel2222280%
193811 & 13 JuneIFA Ulster Banner.svg PortrushNorthern Counties Hotel2222280%
193910 JuneFIFA Flag of France.svg Nice Hotel Negresco 2222280%Last meeting held before World War II. A meeting was scheduled for London in 1940, but was abandoned when FIFA and IFA delegates were unable to attend.
194714 JuneFA Flag of England.svg TorquayImperial Hotel2222280%First meeting held after World War II.
194812 JuneFIFA Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Montreux Palace Hotel 2222280%First meeting held outside Britain, Ireland and France.
Meeting would have regularly been hosted by the SFA, but it was unanimously agreed to accept an invitation from FIFA to host this meeting.
194911 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Pitlochry Hydro Hotel2222280%
195010 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1807-1953).svg Beaumaris Bulkeley Arms Hotel2222280%
19519 JuneIFA Ulster Banner.svg PortrushNorthern Counties Hotel2222280%
195214 JuneFIFA Flag of Italy.svg Capri Morgano-Tiberio Hotel2222280%Date of future meetings moved to third Saturday in June.
195320 JuneFA Flag of England.svg Eastbourne Cavendish Hotel2222280%
195419 JuneFIFA Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Bern Schweizerhof Hotel2222280%The SFA agreed to forego its regularly scheduled hosting duties in order to allow FIFA to host the meeting at its 50th anniversary celebrations preceding the 1954 World Cup.
195518 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg North Berwick Marine Hotel2222280%
195616 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1953-1959).svg LlandudnoImperial Hotel2222280%
195715 JuneIFA Ulster Banner.svg PortrushNorthern Counties Hotel2222280%
19587 JuneFIFA Flag of Sweden.svg Stockholm Hotel Foresta1111475%Meeting held on the day before the opening of the 1958 World Cup.
New rules adopted, with greater voting weight given to FIFA "on behalf of all other National Associations in membership with it".
Hosting rules changed to provide that "when the FIFA Congress and the World Cup coincide", FIFA should host the meeting at the World Cup venue, if practicable.
Date of meeting may be any time in June.
195920 JuneFA Flag of Jersey (pre 1981).svg St. Helier, Jersey Pomme d'Or Hotel1111475%First of four consecutive meetings hosted by the FA outside England in the Channel Islands
196018 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg St Andrews Rusack's Marine Hotel1111475%
196117 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Porthcawl Seabank Hotel 1111475%
196223 JuneIFA Ulster Banner.svg NewcastleSlieve Donard Hotel1111475%
196315 JuneFIFA Flag of Italy.svg Venice Palazzo della Camera di Commercio1111475%
196420 JuneFA Flag of Jersey (pre 1981).svg St. Helier, JerseyGrand Hotel1111475%
196519 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Edinburgh Caledonian Hotel 1111475%
196611 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg LlandudnoMarine Hotel1111475%
196717 JuneIFA Ulster Banner.svg NewcastleSlieve Donard Hotel1111475%Last meeting hosted by the IFA for 13 years. The IFA withdrew from its regular hosting schedule during the 1970s owing to the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland.
196815 JuneFIFA Flag of Yugoslavia (1946-1992).svg Dubrovnik Hotel Excelsior1111475%
196921 JuneFA Flag of Jersey (pre 1981).svg St. Helier, JerseyGrand Hotel1111475%
197027 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Inverness Caledonian Hotel1111475%
197119 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Swansea Dragon Hotel1111475%
197210 JuneFIFA Flag of Austria.svg Vienna Parkhotel Schönbrunn 1111475%FIFA stepped in to replace the IFA.
197323 JuneFA Flag of Guernsey (1936).svg St Peter Port, Guernsey Duke of Richmond Hotel1111475%
19749 JulyFIFA Flag of Germany.svg Rottach-Egern Hotel Bachmair 1111475%Meeting held two days after the final of the 1974 World Cup in nearby Munich.
First meeting not held in June.
197521 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg AuchterarderGleneagles Hotel1111475%
197618 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg PorthcawlSeabank Hotel1111475%
197719 JuneFA Flag of England.svg London Royal Garden Hotel 1111475%The IFA withdrew from hosting this meeting.
19781 JuneFIFA Flag of Argentina.svg Buenos Aires Hotel Sheraton 1111475%First meeting outside Europe. Held on the opening day of the 1978 World Cup.
197916 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg AuchterarderGleneagles Hotel1111475%
19807 JuneIFA Ulster Banner.svg Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel1111475%
198113 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Ruthin Ruthin Castle 1111475%IFAB had accepted an invitation by FIFA President João Havelange to host this meeting in Brazil, but the invitation was subsequently withdrawn, with Havelange missing this meeting for personal reasons.
19826 JulyFIFA Flag of Spain.svg Madrid Palacio de Congresos 1111475%Meeting held the day after the final of the 1982 World Cup
19839 JulyFA Flag of England.svg New Milton Chewton Glen Hotel 1111475%
19842 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Turnberry, Ayrshire Turnberry Hotel 1111475%
198515 JuneIFA Ulster Banner.svg Craigavad, HolywoodCulloden Hotel1111475%
198630 MayFIFA Flag of Mexico.svg Mexico City Camino Real Hotel1111475%First (and, as of 2020, only) meeting in North America.
Originally scheduled to be held in Zürich, but moved to Mexico in connection with the 1986 World Cup.
198713 JuneFAW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Llandudno Bodysgallen Hall 1111475%
19884 JuneFA Flag of England.svg LondonRoyal Lancaster Hotel1111475%
19897 JuneSFA Flag of Scotland.svg EdinburghCaledonian Hotel1111475%
199028 JuneFIFA Flag of Italy.svg Rome Hilton Cavalieri Hotel1111475%Held during the 1990 World Cup
19918 JuneIFA Ulster Banner.svg Craigavad, HolywoodCulloden Hotel1111475%
199230 MayFAW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Usk Valley, Newport Celtic Manor Hotel 1111475%New rules adopted by IFAB: in future years there will be two annual meetings: the Annual General Meeting, held in February / March, and the Annual Business Meeting in September / October.
199327 FebruaryFA Flag of England.svg Thundridge, Hertfordshire Hanbury Manor 1111475%
19945 MarchFIFA Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Zürich FIFA House1111475%
19954 MarchSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Turnberry, AyrshireTurnberry Hotel1111475%
19969 MarchFIFA Flag of Brazil.svg Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Palace Hotel 1111475%Last meeting held outside Europe (as of 2020).
Originally scheduled to be hosted by the IFA in Northern Ireland, but moved to Brazil at the instigation of outgoing FIFA President João Havelange.
19971 MarchIFA Ulster Banner.svg Craigavad, HolywoodCulloden Hotel1111475%
19986 MarchFIFA Flag of France.svg Paris Hôtel Plaza Athénée 1111475%
199920 FebruaryFAW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Groes-faen, Vale of Glamorgan Miskin Manor Hotel 1111475%
200019 FebruaryFA Flag of England.svg Taplow, Berkshire Cliveden 1111475%
200110 MarchSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Edinburgh Balmoral Hotel 1111475%
200216 MarchFIFA Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Zermatt Hôtel Mont Cervin 1111475%
200315 MarchIFA Ulster Banner.svg Craigavad, HolywoodCulloden Hotel1111475%
200428 FebruaryFIFA Flag of England.svg London Claridge's Hotel 1111475%Hosted in London by FIFA as part of its centenary celebrations, to celebrate the role of the four Home Associations in the development of the game. [21] [22]
200526 FebruaryFAW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Groes-faen, Vale of GlamorganMiskin Manor Hotel1111475% [23]
20064 MarchFIFA Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Lucerne Palace Hotel 1111475%120th anniversary. [24]
20073 MarchFA Flag of England.svg Manchester Lowry Hotel 1111475%
20088 MarchSFA Flag of Scotland.svg AuchterarderGleneagles Hotel1111475%
200928 FebruaryIFA Ulster Banner.svg NewcastleSlieve Donard Hotel1111475%
20106 MarchFIFA Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Zürich FIFA headquarters 1111475% [25]
20115 MarchFAW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Usk Valley, NewportCeltic Manor Hotel1111475% [24]
20123 MarchFA Flag of England.svg Bagshot, Surrey Pennyhill Park Hotel 1111475% [26]
20132 MarchSFA Flag of Scotland.svg EdinburghBalmoral Hotel1111475% [27]
20141 MarchFIFA Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg ZürichFIFA headquarters1111475% [28]
201527 February1 MarchIFA Ulster Banner.svg Craigavad, HolywoodCulloden Hotel1111475% [29] [30]
20165 MarchFAW Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg Cardiff St. David's Hotel and Spa 1111475%130th Anniversary. [31] [32]
20173 MarchFA Flag of England.svg Wembley, London Wembley Stadium 1111475% [33] [34]
20183 MarchFIFA Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg ZürichFIFA headquarters1111475% [35] [36]
20192 MarchSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Aberdeen Marcliffe Hotel1111475% [37]
202029 FebruaryIFA Ulster Banner.svg Craigavad, HolywoodCulloden Hotel1111475% [38]
20215 MarchFAWMeeting held by videoconference [39] N/A1111475% [40]
202225 March [41] FIFAMeeting held by videoconference [39] N/A1111475% [42] [43]
20234 MarchFA Flag of England.svg LondonWembley Stadium1111475% [44]
20242 MarchSFA Flag of Scotland.svg Loch Lomond Cameron House1111475% [45]

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