The following representatives were present, viz. :—Messrs. C.
Crump and R. P. Gregson (England), R. Dixon and J. K. McDowall
(Scotland), J. Davies and E. T. Hallmark (Wales), and D. W. Foy and
Jas. Sheehan (Ireland). Messrs. W. Nunnerley (Wales), and C.
McShane (Ireland) were also in attendance, the latter acting as
Secretary.
MINUTES.
The minutes of the previous Meeting held at Bangor (North Wales), were
read and confirmed.
PROPOSALS ARISING OUT OF LAST MINUTES.
No modified undertaking was proposed in
place of the following Resolution rescinded at the last meeting
:—
"That any case of misconduct on the part of clubs, players, or
officials which may occur in connection with any match, shall be dealt
with by the Association under whose jurisdiction the match is played,
and each Association shall adopt and carry out the decision of the
other with regard to such cases."
Mr. Crump reported in respect of the recommendations of the last
Meeting to delete the word "gutta percha" from Law 11, and to extend
the provisions of Law 12 as regards ungentlemanly behaviour, to apply
to Clubs, Officials, and others, that his Annual Meeting could not
fall in with the suggestions, and no alteration was proposed. The
remaining recommendations as to Laws 9 and 10 are included in the
proposed amendments to this Meeting.
PROPOSALS.
The following amendments to the Laws were
proposed on behalf of The Football Association by Mr. Crump , and
seconded by Mr. Gregson, and passed unanimously
:—
LAW 1.—Insert
after the words " more than 28 inches "—The outer casing of
the ball must be of leather, and no material shall be used in the
construction of the ball which would constitute a danger to the
players.
LAW 9.—To
read as follows :—
Neither tripping, kicking, nor jumping at a player shall be
allowed. A player (the goal-keeper excepted), shall not intentionally
handle the ball. A player shall not use his hands to hold or push an
opponent. Charging is permissible, but it must not be violent or
dangerous. A player shall not be charged from behind unless he is
intentionally obstructing an opponent.
LAW 10.—To
read as follows :—
When a free kick has been awarded, the kicker's opponents
shall not approach within 6 yards of the ball unless they are standing
on their own goal line. The ball must at least be rolled over before
it shall be considered played—i.e., it must make a complete
circuit or travel the distance of its circumference. The kicker shall
not play the ball a second time until it has been played by another
player. The kick-off (except as provided by Law 2), corner-kick and
goal-kick shall be free kicks within the meaning of this Law.
New Law to be numbered 11 and the others to be numbered accordingly
:—
A goal may be scored from a free kick which is awarded
because of any infringement of Law 9, but not from any other free
kick.
LAW 15.—
To read as follows :—
In the event of any
temporary suspension of play from any cause, the ball not having gone
into touch or behind the goal line, the Referee shall throw the ball
down where it was when play was suspended, and it shall be in
play when it has touched the ground. If the ball goes into touch or
behind the goal line before it is played by a player, the Referee
shall again throw it down. The players on either side shall
not play the ball until it has touched the ground.
LAW 16.—Delete
the words "be within the goal area" and substitute "not
advance beyond his goal line."
LAW 16.—
Add at the end of the Law :—
If when a penalty
kick is taken the ball passes between the goal posts, under the bar,
the goal shall not be nullified by reason of any infringement by the
defending side.
Definitions of Free Kick, and Place Kick to read as follows
:—
A Place Kick is a kick at the ball while it is on the
ground in the centre of the field of play.
A Free Kick is a kick at the ball in any direction the player pleases,
when it is lying on the ground.
A Place Kick, a Free Kick, or a Penalty Kick must not be
taken until the Referee has given a signal for same.
The addition proposed by the Football Association to decisions of the
International Board, that Linesmen where neutral shall report the
circumstances of a player being sent off the field, was withdrawn for
the present by Mr. Crump upon application from other representatives.
RESOLUTION.
The Scottish Football Association
requested the permission of the Board to delegate power to the
Scottish League to deal with players reported for rough play in their
matches.
The following resolution on the proposition of Mr. Gregson, seconded
by Mr. Sheehan, was passed unanimously
:—
That it is decidedly contrary to the Laws of the Game and the terms of
the Agreement of the 17th June, 1895, to allow Leagues to deal with
Players or Clubs for offences on the field, or breaches of the Laws of
the Game or of the Rules of the Associations, and this Board cannot
accede to the request of the Scottish Football Association to modify
the Agreement.
Mr. Sheehan brought before the Board the fact that it was becoming the
practice of the different Associations to send their Secretaries to
the Meetings of the Board, a practice he agreed with and he desired
the matter put on a proper footing. A number of the other
representatives agreed that the practice was beneficial, and the
following resolution was passed unanimously
:—
That we advise the respective Associations constituting this Board
that the may, if they consider it necessary, have their Secretaries in
attendance at the Board Meetings as Secretaries of such Associations,
but without any voting power on any matter under discussion.
It is the unanimous opinion of the Board that the representatives of
the respective Associations should not be changed more frequently than
is absolutely necessary, inasmuch as the work of the Board is
facilitated and rendered more satisfactory by the representatives
having knowledge of the various discussions which occur year after
year, and being closely in touch with the method of procedure, thus
ensuring continuity of policy.
A vote of thanks was passed to the Chairman for presiding.
