there has been a rumour that has been circulating through Australian football that the ffa will be introducing a new rule to all football games in Australia.

the rule apparently is that any player who makes contact with another players face/head through the use of their arms or hands (doesn't matter if they do it accidentally) will be punished with a free kick against them as well as an automatic yellow card.

can any referee who reads these forums (there are many), can confirm that this rule will be introduced this weekend?

if this rule is being introduced, then shame on football. Can you imagine if two players are going up for a header and in the process, one of them unknowingly brushes the other face? Automatic yellow and free-kick and if it happens in the box, penalty. Disgraceful.

i hope clubs will boycott this ridiculous rule. The game is already soft as it is and rules like this will make the game a farce.

Sounds like pretty much any contested header in the air could result in a yellow card and a foul. There could be a thousand penalties called because of this.

Is this a new law change or is this a Football NSW rule (like the 25 metre rule and sin bin)
I haven't heard any news from our club and football starts this weekend. Absolute joke if we get told before kick off of this significant new change.

Haven't heard anything Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sounds like pretty much any contested header in
> the air could result in a yellow card and a foul.
> There could be a thousand penalties called because
> of this.
>
> Is this a new law change or is this a Football NSW
> rule (like the 25 metre rule and sin bin)
> I haven't heard any news from our club and
> football starts this weekend. Absolute joke if we
> get told before kick off of this significant new
> change.

Looked up the referee's website and found this document.

Last dot point confirms the rule change that has been made by the FFA.

Clubs have yet to be informed about this and we need to.

Readers Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Haven't heard anything Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Sounds like pretty much any contested header in
> > the air could result in a yellow card and a
> foul.
> > There could be a thousand penalties called
> because
> > of this.
> >
> > Is this a new law change or is this a Football
> NSW
> > rule (like the 25 metre rule and sin bin)
> > I haven't heard any news from our club and
> > football starts this weekend. Absolute joke if
> we
> > get told before kick off of this significant
> new
> > change.
>
> Looked up the referee's website and found this
> document.
>
> Last dot point confirms the rule change that has
> been made by the FFA.
>
> Clubs have yet to be informed about this and we
> need to.

[www.nwsfra.com.au]

Forgot to paste the link

Yep, absolutely true... and no, not looking forward to enforcing it.

Ditto. Would like FFA’s view on whether the concept of a “trifling foul” is still in play with this directive...

unlucky mouyis
cant claim all his elbows to the head are accidental anymore
its still a yellow card
sucked in you grub mouyis

Looking at FFA's website they have a circular 20-15 -Amendments to the IFAB Laws of the Game from August where all of the other rule changes are mentioned except the hand/arm coming in contact with the face rule change. Can't find an Australian based local rule change advice on FFA's site.....

People will just deliberately run into people's elbows now to get them a yellow card

Horko Wrote:
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> People will just deliberately run into people's
> elbows now to get them a yellow card

Any team that is smart would pretty much ensure that for every header in the box, you place a midget against a 6 ft 2-5 bloke, knowing that when he jumps, contact will no doubt be made to the head.

Guaranteed penalty and yellow card.

Hey fellas,

We have received an update and this new rule will NOT be enforced.

So to be clear - a direct free kick and yellow card WILL NOT be given to a player if contact to the head/face with arms/hands is negligible (i.e. hands accidentally brush the face of another player)

Clubs should hopefully be emailed about this. Enjoy the first round!

Horko Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> People will just deliberately run into people's
> elbows now to get them a yellow card


That has to be the funniest things i've read in a while.

Pretty much because it's true!