It is no secret that the International Football Association (FIFA), which was founded in 1904, is the supervisor of all football competitions in the world.

Accordingly, football fans believe that FIFA is the body authorized to enact laws and oblige the continental and local federations to work with them;

But this is a misconception;

Because the International Football Association Board - known simply as "IFAB" - is directly responsible for everything related to the laws of the game, whether it is to enact new laws, or amend existing texts.

Establishment of IFAP and its member states

The IFAB was established on 2 June 1886 by the four British Football Associations (England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland), as the body responsible for developing and maintaining the Laws of the First People's Game.

27 years after the establishment of the Council, specifically in 1913, the International Football Association joined the membership of "IFAP";

To represent the other 207 national associations.

These five bodies work to ensure that the laws of football are preserved, whose approval or amendment requires the approval of three-quarters of the members.

Mechanism for adopting laws and council committees

The four British countries have one vote each, while FIFA has four, so the International Football Association does not have the right to change the laws alone.

The IFAB includes in its various committees a large number of members who are experts in the field of football, such as former players and referees, and they are consulted and asked for their views on everything related to improvements to the Laws of the Game.

The five committees are: the Board of Directors, the Football Advisory Board, the Technical Advisory Board, the Technical Subcommittee, and the Executive Support Office.

In January 2014, the FIFA Council was accredited as an independent association to run it, and a new headquarters was taken in the Swiss city of Zurich.

Three years later, the Council conducted a full review of all laws that had been enacted throughout history, in a step it described as "a bold step towards the future of football."

Ordinary meeting and its agenda

The International Football Association Board holds its regular meeting in March of each year, hosted by the British federations and FIFA among themselves alternately.

After this meeting, the Council announces the new laws, or the amendments it has approved, as they become binding on the national associations on the first of June following the meeting, and countries whose football season has not ended are allowed to delay the application of the new laws until the start of the next season.

The International Federation Council stresses the need for the changes to be comprehensive and applicable in every match, and stipulates that the new or amended law should be a direct contributor to increasing the fun of football as well as achieving justice, which was achieved through the introduction of technology.

In addition to all this, the rules should focus on controlling and improving the behavior of competitors, increasing respect among them, and reducing downtime.

propose laws

Any local union can propose the introduction of new laws or other previous amendments, by submitting a written letter to the council secretary no later than the first of November of each year, and these proposals are presented to the specialized committees, to be approved or not at the regular annual meeting in March.

During the last meeting, which ended on June 13, 2022, and was held in the Qatari capital, Doha, the Council approved amendments and clarifications to the Laws of the Game for the year 2022-2023, which entered into force on July 1, 2022.

Updates

The Council approved - and definitively - the adoption of 5 substitutions per match instead of 3, with the need for each team to commit to 3 substitution periods, in addition to a break between the two halves.

With regard to the maximum number of substitute players, it was decided to increase their number in the team's list from 12 to 15 players, and this is due to the discretion of the organizing committee for any tournament.

Discussions were also held about tests for substitution of players with concussion, and the latest technological advances to assist referees.

second meeting

The International Federation Council holds a second annual meeting, in November of each year, and it is called the "Annual Business Meeting", in which it discusses its internal affairs among its five committees.

In addition to the aforementioned, the council will discuss issues related to the bidding process for the men's and women's World Cups, the annual FIFA Awards Ceremony, and the venue of the FIFA Congress.