The International
Football Board held its 2nd annual meeting in the Rooms of the
Scottish Football Association on Wednesday, 1 June 1887. Mr A.
McKennedy , President of the Scottish Association occupied the chair
and there were also present messrs. J. Devlin (Scotland), J.C. Clegg
and J. Armstrong (England) and J. Sinclair and A.H. Dill (Ireland).
Wales were not represented. Mr J. McDowell, secretary of SFA acted as
secretary of the minutes.
After the approval of minutes, J. Sinclair
proposed and J. Armstrong seconded, that in the definition of a
free-kick the word "way" be deleted and "direction" insertion instead
and that the following be added to rule viz. "The ball must at least
be rolled over before it shall be considered played" and after some
discussion the proposal was carried unanimously.
The proposal to
include "attempting to throw" in definition of tripping caused some
discussion. Messrs Clegg, Dill and Sinclair were in favour of it
whilst messrs Kennedy, Devlin and Armstrong thought its insertion
unnecessary as they considered and before had sufficient power to
warrant him giving a foul for a "deliberate attempt to throw". They
however asserted to the insertion of the words seeing it but clearly
stated what they considered was the understood interpretation.
On the question
of touch "whether a ball in the air but over the line is in play or
otherwise" created a long discussion and as no agreement could be
arrived at the question was postponed and a recommendation made at the
next Conference to define clearly the touch and goal lines and also
when a player is out of or in play in relation to touch and goal lines
viz: "Can a player when in touch bend forward and head a ball which is
in play"?
Seeing a
goalkeeper can only use his hands in defence of his goal, the
Conference decided this shall mean "within his own half of the
ground".
The notices
[regarding an] alternative penalty for charging behind were withdrawn.
The proposal
"that touch lines should turn at right angles to goal lines" was only
supported by Scottish delegates. The other representatives however,
looked favourably on it but thought if each association would insert
it in its own Cup Competition rules, no restrictions would be placed
on clubs outside of the jurisdiction of the four national
associations. In consequence of want of unanimity the motion was
withdrawn.
The penalty for
violating Rule 2 of the Laws of the Game is now a free-kick to the
opposing team.
The English
proposal "that bars only shall be allowed in the soles of the boots"
was agreed to as fending to minimise danger and while it maybe a
hardship to some to be debarred from playing with studs, all players
will now be placed on an equality.
"That a British subject
born abroad shall be eligible to play for his fathers nationality" was
unanimously adopted.
The Conference
decided that a line ball is playable.
A vote of thanks
to the chairman terminated the proceedings which lasted 2½
hours.
The delegates
afterwards were entertained to lunch at in the Royal Hotel, George
Square.
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