FIFA Association Board abolishs Golden Goal

On its General Meeting in London the International Football Association Board (IFAB) determined the removal of the Golden Goal. Matches drawn after the regular time will from now on once more be decided in two 15 minutes lasting extra periods and if necessary afterwards by kicks from the penalty mark. At the European Championship from June 12 to July 4 games nevertheless can be decided by the Silver Goal rule as the European Championship is a competition of the European Football-Union (UEFA).

At last the German Women’s National Team had won the world championship in the USA after a Golden Goal from Nia Künzer against Sweden. The first Golden Goal in football-history had been achieved by Oliver Bierhoff in the European Championship Final in England during the game at the Wembley-Stadium London. The german national team won the match with 2-1 against the Czech Republic.

The Golden Goal rule said, that a game had to be finished immediately after a goal in overtime period. After the Silver Goal rule a match had to be over after the first part of the overtime period if one team was in the lead.

FIFA confirms World Cup Opening in Munich

In addition the official opening of the 2006 FIFA World Cup before the opening game in Munich Stadium on 9 June was confirmed. The 2006 FIFA Ordinary Congress will also be staged in Munich before the tournament.

Furthermore the FIFA Executive Committee agreed to sign the arrangement between FIFA and the World Antidoping Agency (WADA) at the congress in Paris on 20/21 May.

Format for 2005 Club World Championship ratified

The FIFA Executive Committee ratified the format for the 2005 Club World Championship. The continental champions from Europe and South America will not join action until the semi-finals. The winners of the four other continental championships play for the other two half-final-places. Time and place of the competition, which will last eight days, have yet to be decided.

FIFA limits the number of substitutions

The International Football Association Board also approved a number of amendments to the laws of the game. From the upcoming season 2004/2005 on, no more than six substitutions per team shall be permitted in friendly matches.

DFB-teammanager Rudi Völler and the english teammanager Sven-Goran Eriksson had prefered the existing arrangement which allowed unlimited substitutions. „I had spoken with Erik about it. Like him, I am against this new rule. I am not a friend of complete substitutions. But there are always matches, where you have to substitute more players“, the DFB-teammanager had expressed himself in approach of the match against Croatia.

Another new law is the approval of artificial turf for use in official matches if it meets „the requisite quality standards“. Rejected were proposals to increase the maximum length of the half-time interval from 15 to 20 minutes and to advance free kicks if a player from the penalised team fails to retreat the required distance or prevents the free kick from being taken. In opposition was confirmed that a any player removing his jersey after scoring a goal shall be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.

[ac]


[bild1]

On its General Meeting in London the International Football Association Board (IFAB) determined the removal of the Golden Goal. Matches drawn after the regular time will from now on once more be decided in two 15 minutes lasting extra periods and if necessary afterwards by kicks from the penalty mark.
At the European Championship from June 12 to July 4 games nevertheless can be decided by the Silver Goal rule as the European Championship is a competition of the European Football-Union (UEFA).



At last the German Women’s National Team had won the world championship in the USA after a Golden Goal from Nia Künzer against Sweden. The first Golden Goal in football-history had been achieved by Oliver Bierhoff in the European Championship Final in England during the game at the Wembley-Stadium London. The german national team won the match with 2-1 against the Czech Republic.



The Golden Goal rule said, that a game had to be finished immediately after a goal in overtime period. After the Silver Goal rule a match had to be over after the first part of the overtime period if one team was in the lead.



FIFA confirms World Cup Opening in Munich



In addition the official opening of the 2006 FIFA World Cup before the opening game in Munich Stadium on 9 June was confirmed. The 2006 FIFA Ordinary Congress will also be staged in Munich before the tournament.



Furthermore the FIFA Executive Committee agreed to sign the arrangement between FIFA and the World Antidoping Agency (WADA) at the congress in Paris on 20/21 May.



Format for 2005 Club World Championship ratified



The FIFA Executive Committee ratified the format for the 2005 Club World Championship. The continental champions from Europe and South America will not join action until the semi-finals. The winners of the four other continental championships play for the other two half-final-places. Time and place of the competition, which will last eight days, have yet to be decided.



FIFA limits the number of substitutions



The International Football Association Board also approved a number of amendments to the laws of the game. From the upcoming season 2004/2005 on, no more than six substitutions per team shall be permitted in friendly matches.



DFB-teammanager Rudi Völler and the english teammanager Sven-Goran Eriksson had prefered the existing arrangement which allowed unlimited substitutions. „I had spoken with Erik about it. Like him, I am against this new rule. I am not a friend of complete substitutions. But there are always matches, where you have to substitute more players“, the DFB-teammanager had expressed himself in approach of the match against Croatia.



Another new law is the approval of artificial turf for use in official matches if it meets „the requisite quality standards“. Rejected were proposals to increase the maximum length of the half-time interval from 15 to 20 minutes and to advance free kicks if a player from the penalised team fails to retreat the required distance or prevents the free kick from being taken. In opposition was confirmed that a any player removing his jersey after scoring a goal shall be cautioned for unsporting behaviour.