The International Football Association Board met in the
Alexandra Hotel, Bath Street, Glasgow, on Tuesday the 2nd June 1891 at
6pm.
Mr G. Sneddon (President of the
Scottish Football Association) was called the chair. the following
delegates were present viz: Messrs. C. Crump and R.P. Gregson
(England), J. Taylor and A.H. Hunter (Wales), J. Reid (Ireland) and A.
Sliman and Chairman (Scotland). Mr McDowell, secretary of the SFA,
acted as secretary at the meeting.
Before proceeding with the
business, it was decided not to admit the Press.
It was reported that the Minute Book had not been forwarded
from England and Mr Gregson took in hand to see that the book was sent
on.
W. Reid (Ireland) proposed and Mr Crump (England) seconded,
the following which had been recommended from the last Board meeting
and which was also proposed by the Football Association, viz:-
If any player shall intentionally trip put on hold an opposing player, or
deliberately handle the ball within twelve yards from his own goal-line, the
Referee shall, on appeal, award the opposing side a penalty kick, to
be taken from any point twelve yards from the goal-line, under the
following conditions:- All players, with the exception of the player
taking the penalty kick and the opposing goal-keeper, shall stand
behind the ball and at least six yards from it; the ball shall be in
play when the kick is taken. A goal may be scored from the
penalty kick.
After considerable discussion, it was agreed to make the
following alterations, viz:- After the word "Goalkeeper" to add in
parenthesis ("who shall not advance more than six yards from the
goal-line") and delete the words "Behind the ball and at least six
yards from it" and substitute "at least six yards behind the ball,
after which a period to be inserted and make following T a capital
letter and delete the period after the word "taken", making a comma
thus introducing the conjunction "and". Following is Law, as amended.
—If any player shall intentionally trip put on hold an opposing player, or
deliberately handle the ball within twelve yards from his own goal-line, the
referee shall, on appeal, award the opposing side a penalty kick, to
be taken from any point twelve yards from the goal-line, under the
following conditions:-All players, with the exception of the player
taking the penalty kick and the opposing goal-keeper (who shall not
advance more than six yards from the goal-line) shall stand
at least six yards behind the ball. The ball shall be in
play when the kick is taken, and a goal may be scored from the
penalty kick.
The following recommendation from the Football Association was
adopted.
"That it is desirable that the positions of umpires should be
abolished. That linesmen should be appointed whose duties (subject to
the referee) should be to decide when the ball is out of play, and
which side has the throw-in."
The meeting then proceeded to go over the Laws ad seriatim and
made the following changes.
Law 1. was altered to read as under:-
—The limits of the ground shall be:-Maximum length, 200
yards; minimum length, 100 yards; maximum breadth, 100 yards; minimum
breadth, 50 yards. The length and breadth shall be marked off with
flags and touchline; and a line defining six yards from the goal posts
and twelve yards from the goal lines shall also be marked out.
The centre of the ground shall be indicated by a suitable mark and a
circle with a ten yards radius shall be made around it. The
goals shall be upright posts, eight yards apart, with a bar across
them eight feet from the ground. The average circumference of
the Association ball shall be not less than 27 inches, and not more
than 28 inches; and in International Matches, at the commencement of
the game, the weight of the ball shall be from 13 to 15 ounces.
The words in Law 7. "Nearest goalpost" were altered to read
"Goalpost nearest to the point where the ball left the field of play".
In Law 9. after the word "Free-kick", it was decided to add in
parenthesis ("except as provided in Law 13").
The wording in Law 10. was altered as under:-
—Neither tripping, hacking, nor jumping at a player
shall be allowed, and no player shall use his hands to hold or push
his adversary. No player may charge an opponent from behind,
unless such opponent be not only facing his own goal, but is, in the
opinion of the referee, wilfully impeding his adversary while in that
position.
In accordance with the recommendation of the Football
Association regarding the abolition of umpires, which had been adopt,
the meeting proceeded to remodel Law 12, and, after considerable
detail, the following was agreed upon:-
—A referee shall be appointed, whose duties shall be to
enforce the rules and decide all disputed points. He shall also keep a
record of the game, and act as timekeeper: and, in the event of any
ungentlemanly behaviour on the part of any of the contestants, the
offender or offenders shall be cautioned, and if the offence is
repeated, or, in the case of violent conduct, without any previous
caution, the referee shall have power to rule the offending player or
players out of play, and shall transmit the name or names of such
player or players to his or their (National) Association, in whom
shall be solely vested the right of accepting an apology. The referee
shall have power to terminate the game whenever, by reason of
darkness, interference by spectators, or other cause, he shall think
fit, and he shall report the same to the Association under whose
jurisdiction the match was played, who shall have full power to deal
with the matter. Two linesmen shall be appointed, whose duty (SUBJECT
TO THE DECISION OF THE REFEREE) shall be to decide when the ball is
out of play, and which side is entitled to the corner-flag kick,
goal-kick, or throw-in. Any undue interference by a linesman shall be
reported by the referee to the National Association to which the
linesman belongs, who shall deal with the matter in such a manner as
they deem necessary. The referee shall have power to award a
free-kick without any appeal in any case where he thinks the
conduct of a player is dangerous or likely to prove dangerous, but not
sufficiently so as to justify him putting in force the greater powers
vested in him as above.
The new penalty kick Law which had been passed at the
beginning of the meeting was placed next in order, viz:- Law 13.
Laws 13, 14, 15 and 16 then became Laws 14, 15, 16 and 17 and
in latter Law it was decided to add after Laws 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, the
addition of Law 16.
On the motion of Mr Taylor (Wales) seconded by Mr Reid
(Ireland) a vote of thanks was awarded to the Chairman and the
business was concluded.
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