IFAB Agrees to Greater Consultation on Decision-Making Process

Football’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), has agreed to broaden consultation within football to help the body’s decision-making process.

The IFAB, which comprises world football’s governing body and the four British national associations – England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales – met for its 127th annual general meeting in Edinburgh on Saturday.

“Following the IFAB being asked to ‘self-reform’ as part of FIFA’s governance reform proposals at the FIFA Congress 2011,” a statement said after the meeting, “a lengthy and detailed review has taken place, involving the four British associations, and FIFA.

“Whilst the IFAB composition will remain unchanged, it was agreed that greater levels of consultation with the game are required to inform and improve decision-making, and provide greater transparency. A presentation was made to the six confederation general secretaries in Zurich on 26 February, and this will be presented to the FIFA Congress 2013 in Mauritius on 30-31 May.”

As a means of improving consultation, the IFAB agreed to the formation of two new advisory panels – a technical panel comprising refereeing experts from across the world, and a football panel, composed of approximately 20 former players and coaches, current coaches, FIFPro and confederation technical directors.