The International
Football Association Board
Formation2 June 1886 (1886-06-02)
TypeManagement of football rules
Legal statusCurrent; operational
PurposeManagement of the Laws of the Game
HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
Location
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
Secretary
Lukas Brud
Websitewww.theifab.com

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is the body that determines the Laws of the Game of association football. IFAB was founded in 1886 to agree standardised Laws for international competition, and has since acted as the "guardian" of the internationally used Laws. Since its establishment in 1904, FIFA, the sport's top governing body, has recognised IFAB's jurisdiction over the Laws.[1] IFAB is known to take a highly conservative attitude regarding changes to the Laws of the Game.[2]

It is a separate body from FIFA, though FIFA is represented on the board and holds 50% of the voting power. As a legacy of association football's origins in the United Kingdom, the football associations of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales each have permanent seats on the organisation. Amendments to the Laws require a three-quarter supermajority vote, meaning that FIFA's support is necessary but not sufficient for a motion to pass.

History

Establishment

The Laws of the Game in 1903

Though the rules of football had largely been standardised by the early 1880s, the four football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland still each had slightly different rules. When international matches were played, the rules of the home team's national association were used. While this solution was workable, it was hardly ideal. To remedy this, the then football associations of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland met at the International Football Conference on 6 December 1882 in Manchester, in order to set forth a common set of rules that could be applied to matches between the UK football associations' national teams.

In the summer of 1885, the English FA legalised professionalism. The Scottish FA responded that it would refuse to allow professionals in its own national team, and would refuse to play international matches against an England team containing professionals.[3] The Irish FA attempted to mediate by proposing that "an international conference should be held each year, say, in August, to be called in turn by each national association to deal with the laws of the game, and discuss other matters of interest to Association football, and at which international disputes could be adjusted".[4]

First meeting

The first meeting of IFAB took place at the FA's offices at Holborn Viaduct in London on Wednesday 2 June 1886.[5][6] The FA, SFA, FAW and IFA each had equal voting rights.

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the international organising body for the sport, was formed in Paris in 1904 and declared that, regarding the Laws of the Game itself, they would enforce the rules laid down by IFAB. In 1912, FIFA requested that its representatives be included in IFAB. At a special meeting held in January 1913 in Wrexham, IFAB agreed to FIFA's request. The first regular IFAB meeting to include FIFA occurred in June 1913. Each association (including FIFA) was entitled to send two representatives, with a four-fifths majority required to change the laws (thus the UK associations could still change the laws against FIFA's wishes if they all voted together). One more meeting of IFAB was held, in Paris in 1914, before regular meetings were curtailed by the First World War.

Post–war

For the first four post-war IFAB meetings (1920, 1921, 1922, and 1923), FIFA was once again excluded, on account of a dispute between FIFA and the home nations. From 1924, once the dispute had been resolved, FIFA once again attended IFAB meetings. In 1958, the Board agreed on its current voting system.

Since Irish partition in 1921, the IFA has evolved to become the organising body for football in Northern Ireland, with football in the Republic of Ireland being organised by the FAI. A request for the FAI to become a member of IFAB was denied at the 1923 annual general meeting.[7]

Operations

Membership

The IFAB is made up of representatives from England's Football Association (The FA), the Scottish Football Association (SFA), the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and Northern Ireland's Irish Football Association (IFA)—and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA, the International Association Football Federation), the international governing body for football. Each British association has one vote and FIFA has four. IFAB deliberations must be approved by three-quarters of the vote, or at least six of the eight votes.[8] Thus, FIFA's approval is necessary for any IFAB decision, but FIFA alone cannot change the Laws of the Game—they need to be agreed by at least two of the UK members. As of 2016, all members must be present for a binding vote to proceed.[8]

Permanent members

Member Association
 England Football Association
 Scotland Scottish Football Association
 Northern Ireland Irish Football Association
 Wales Football Association of Wales
FIFA N/A

Meetings of the board

The Board meets twice a year, once to decide on possible changes to the rules governing the game of Football (the Annual General Meeting (AGM)) and once to deliberate on its internal affairs (the Annual Business Meeting (ABM)). In FIFA World Cup years, the AGM is held at FIFA's offices; otherwise, it rotates between Northern Ireland, Wales, England and Scotland in that order.[8] Four weeks before the AGM, the member associations must send their written proposals to the secretary of the host association. FIFA then prints a list of suggestions that are distributed to all other associations for examination. The AGM is held either in February or March and the ABM is held between September and October.[9] In cases of necessity, the Board can meet in a Special Meeting in addition to the two ordinary annual meetings. As of December 2012, the last Special Meeting was hosted by FIFA in Zürich on 5 July 2012.[10]

The decisions of each year's Annual General Meeting of the Board regarding changes to the Laws of the Game enter into force from 1 July (and are binding on FIFA and on the other members of the Board, and, given that FIFA's Statutes establish that FIFA and its member associations and affiliates adhere to the Laws of the Game laid down by IFAB, those changes bind also FIFA's other member associations, FIFA's continental confederations of member associations, and the subnational entities of the national associations) but confederations, member associations and other bodies whose current season has not ended by 1 July may delay the introduction of the adopted alterations to the Laws of the Game in their competitions until the beginning of their next season.[11] As well as permanent changes to the Laws, IFAB also authorises trials of potential amendments.[12]

List of IFAB Annual General Meetings

Year Date Host Location Venue Votes Notes / references[13]
FA SFA FAW IFA FIFA Required
to amend laws
1886 1 June FA England London Football Association Offices,
51 Holborn Viaduct		 2 2 2 2 0 100% First meeting
1887 1 June SFA Scotland Glasgow Scottish Football Association Offices,
6 Carlton Place		 First meeting to amend the Laws of the Game
1888 25 June FAW Wales Wrexham Wynnstay Arms Hotel [14]
1889 1 June IFA Ireland Belfast Commercial Hotel [15]
1890 2 June FA England London Anderton's Hotel [16]
1891 2 June SFA Scotland Glasgow Alexandra Hotel
1892 13 June FAW Wales Llandudno Prince of Wales Hotel
1893 10 June IFA Ireland Belfast Hotel Shaftesbury Date of subsequent meetings fixed to be the third Monday in June.
1894 18 June FA England Windermere Ferry Hotel
1895 17 June SFA Scotland Glasgow Alexandra Hotel
1896 15 June FAW Wales Aberystwyth White Horse Hotel
1897 14 June IFA Ireland Rostrevor, Newry Mourne Hotel
1898 20 June FA England London Football Association Offices,
61 Chancery Lane
1899 19 June SFA Scotland Glasgow St. Enoch's Station Hotel
1900 18 June FAW Wales Llangollen Royal Hotel
1901 17 June IFA Ireland Giant's Causeway, Bushmills tejas hotel also
1902 16 June FA England Scarborough Grand Hotel
1903 15 June SFA Scotland Ayr Station Hotel Date of subsequent meetings moved to the second Saturday in June.
1904 11 June FAW Wales Bangor British Hotel [17]
1905 17 June IFA Ireland Killarney Lake Hotel First meeting to be held outside today's United Kingdom.
1906 9 June FA England Bowness-on-Windermere Royal Hotel
1907 8 June SFA Scotland Oban Alexandra Hotel
1908 19–20 June FAW Wales Llandrindod Wells Rock Hotel
1909 12 June IFA Ireland Bundoran Great Northern Hotel
1910 11 June FA England Brighton Royal York Hotel
1911 11 June SFA Scotland Turnberry, Ayrshire Station Hotel
1912 8 June FAW Wales Aberystwyth Queen's Hotel
1913 14 June IFA Ireland Portrush Northern Counties Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80% First meeting to include FIFA
1914 13 June FIFA France Paris Hotel Palais D'Orsay First meeting held outside Britain and Ireland.
Last meeting before the First World War.
1920 12–14 June FA England Torquay Torbay Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% First meeting after the First World War.
FIFA again excluded.
1921 11 June SFA Scotland Portpatrick Portpatrick Hotel
1922 10 June FAW Wales Llandudno Imperial Hotel
1923 9 June IFA Northern Ireland Giant's Causeway, Bushmills Causeway Hotel Last meeting to exclude FIFA
1924 14 June FA England London Football Association Offices,
42 Russell Square		 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1925 13 June FIFA France Paris 11 Rue de Londres
1926 12 June SFA Scotland St Andrews Grand Hotel
1927 11 June FAW Wales Llandudno Grand Hotel
1928 9 June IFA Northern Ireland Newcastle Slieve Donard Hotel
1929 8 June FIFA France Paris Fédération Française de Football Association Offices,
22 Rue de Londres
1930 14 June FA England Bournemouth Royal Exeter Hotel
1931 13 June SFA Scotland Auchterarder Gleneagles Hotel
1932 11 June FAW Wales Llandudno Imperial Hotel
1933 10 June IFA Northern Ireland Portrush Northern Counties Hotel Rules amended to allow FIFA-hosted meetings to take place in "the territory of a Continental National Association", rather than being restricted to Paris.
1934 9 June FIFA France Cannes Hôtel des Anglais
1935 8 June FA England Shanklin Daish's Hotel
1936 13 June SFA Scotland Troon Marine Hotel
1937 12 June FAW Wales Llandudno Imperial Hotel
1938 11 & 13 June IFA Northern Ireland Portrush Northern Counties Hotel
1939 10 June FIFA France Nice Hotel Negresco Last meeting held before World War II. A meeting was scheduled for London in 1940, but was abandoned when FIFA and IFA delegates were unable to attend.
1947 14 June FA England Torquay Imperial Hotel First meeting held after World War II.
1948 12 June FIFA Switzerland Montreux Palace Hotel First meeting held outside Britain, Ireland and France.
Meeting would have regularly been hosted by the SFA, but it was unanimously agreed to accept an invitation from FIFA to host this meeting.
1949 11 June SFA Scotland Pitlochry Hydro Hotel
1950 10 June FAW Wales Beaumaris Bulkeley Arms Hotel
1951 9 June IFA Northern Ireland Portrush Northern Counties Hotel
1952 14 June FIFA Italy Capri Morgano-Tiberio Hotel Date of future meetings moved to third Saturday in June.
1953 20 June FA England Eastbourne Cavendish Hotel
1954 19 June FIFA Switzerland Bern Schweizerhof Hotel The SFA agreed to forego its regularly scheduled hosting duties in order to allow FIFA to host the meeting at its 50th anniversary celebrations preceding the 1954 World Cup.
1955 18 June SFA Scotland North Berwick Marine Hotel
1956 16 June FAW Wales Llandudno Imperial Hotel
1957 15 June IFA Northern Ireland Portrush Northern Counties Hotel
1958 7 June FIFA Sweden Stockholm Hotel Foresta 1 1 1 1 4 75% Meeting held on the day before the opening of the 1958 World Cup.
New rules adopted, with greater voting weight given to FIFA "on behalf of all other National Associations in membership with it".
Hosting rules changed to provide that "when the FIFA Congress and the World Cup coincide", FIFA should host the meeting at the World Cup venue, if practicable.
Date of meeting may be any time in June.
1959 20 June FA Jersey St. Helier, Jersey Pomme d'Or Hotel First of four consecutive meetings hosted by the FA outside England in the Channel Islands
1960 18 June SFA Scotland St Andrews Rusack's Marine Hotel
1961 17 June FAW Wales Porthcawl Seabank Hotel
1962 23 June IFA Northern Ireland Newcastle Slieve Donard Hotel
1963 15 June FIFA Italy Venice Palazzo della Camera di Commercio
1964 20 June FA Jersey St. Helier, Jersey Grand Hotel
1965 19 June SFA Scotland Edinburgh Caledonian Hotel
1966 11 June FAW Wales Llandudno Marine Hotel
1967 17 June IFA Northern Ireland Newcastle Slieve Donard Hotel Last meeting hosted by the IFA for 13 years. The IFA withdrew from its regular hosting schedule during the 1970s owing to the "Troubles" in Northern Ireland.
1968 15 June FIFA Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Dubrovnik Hotel Excelsior
1969 21 June FA Jersey St. Helier, Jersey Grand Hotel
1970 27 June SFA Scotland Inverness Caledonian Hotel
1971 19 June FAW Wales Swansea Dragon Hotel
1972 10 June FIFA Austria Vienna Parkhotel Schönbrunn FIFA stepped in to replace the IFA.
1973 23 June FA Guernsey St Peter Port, Guernsey Duke of Richmond Hotel
1974 9 July FIFA West Germany Rottach-Egern Hotel Bachmair Meeting held two days after the final of the 1974 World Cup in nearby Munich.
First meeting not held in June.
1975 21 June SFA Scotland Auchterarder Gleneagles Hotel
1976 18 June FAW Wales Porthcawl Seabank Hotel
1977 19 June FA England London Royal Garden Hotel The IFA withdrew from hosting this meeting.
1978 1 June FIFA Argentina Buenos Aires Hotel Sheraton First meeting outside Europe. Held on the opening day of the 1978 World Cup.
1979 16 June SFA Scotland Auchterarder Gleneagles Hotel
1980 7 June IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel
1981 13 June FAW Wales Ruthin Ruthin Castle IFAB had accepted an invitation by FIFA President João Havelange to host this meeting in Brazil, but the invitation was subsequently withdrawn, with Havelange missing this meeting for personal reasons.
1982 6 July FIFA Spain Madrid Palacio de Congresos Meeting held the day after the final of the 1982 World Cup
1983 9 July FA England New Milton Chewton Glen Hotel
1984 2 June SFA Scotland Turnberry, Ayrshire Turnberry Hotel
1985 15 June IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel
1986 30 May FIFA Mexico Mexico City Camino Real Hotel First (and, as of 2020, only) meeting in North America.
Originally scheduled to be held in Zürich, but moved to Mexico in connection with the 1986 World Cup.
1987 13 June FAW Wales Llandudno Bodysgallen Hall
1988 4 June FA England London Royal Lancaster Hotel
1989 7 June SFA Scotland Edinburgh Caledonian Hotel
1990 28 June FIFA Italy Rome Hilton Cavalieri Hotel Held during the 1990 World Cup
1991 8 June IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel
1992 30 May FAW Wales Usk Valley, Newport Celtic Manor Hotel New rules adopted by IFAB: in future years there will be two annual meetings: the Annual General Meeting, held in February / March, and the Annual Business Meeting in September / October.
1993 27 February FA England Thundridge, Hertfordshire Hanbury Manor
1994 5 March FIFA Switzerland Zürich FIFA House
1995 4 March SFA Scotland Turnberry, Ayrshire Turnberry Hotel
1996 9 March FIFA Brazil Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Palace Hotel Last meeting held outside Europe (as of 2020).
Originally scheduled to be hosted by the IFA in Northern Ireland, but moved to Brazil at the instigation of outgoing FIFA President João Havelange.
1997 1 March IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel
1998 6 March FIFA France Paris Hôtel Plaza Athénée
1999 20 February FAW Wales Groes-faen, Vale of Glamorgan Miskin Manor Hotel
2000 19 February FA England Taplow, Berkshire Cliveden
2001 10 March SFA Scotland Edinburgh Balmoral Hotel
2002 16 March FIFA Switzerland Zermatt Hôtel Mont Cervin
2003 15 March IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel
2004 28 February FIFA England London Claridge's Hotel Hosted in London by FIFA as part of its centenary celebrations, to celebrate the role of the four Home Associations in the development of the game.[18][19]
2005 26 February FAW Wales Groes-faen, Vale of Glamorgan Miskin Manor Hotel [20]
2006 4 March FIFA Switzerland Lucerne Palace Hotel 120th anniversary.[21]
2007 3 March FA England Manchester Lowry Hotel
2008 8 March SFA Scotland Auchterarder Gleneagles Hotel
2009 28 February IFA Northern Ireland Newcastle Slieve Donard Hotel
2010 6 March FIFA Switzerland Zürich FIFA headquarters [22]
2011 5 March FAW Wales Usk Valley, Newport Celtic Manor Hotel [21]
2012 3 March FA England Bagshot, Surrey Pennyhill Park Hotel [23]
2013 2 March SFA Scotland Edinburgh Balmoral Hotel [24]
2014 1 March FIFA Switzerland Zürich FIFA headquarters [25]
2015 27 February–1 March IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel [26][27]
2016 5 March FAW Wales Cardiff St. David's Hotel and Spa 130th Anniversary.[28][29]
2017 3 March FA England Wembley, London Wembley Stadium [30][31]
2018 3 March FIFA Switzerland Zürich FIFA headquarters [32][33]
2019 2 March SFA Scotland Aberdeen Marcliffe Hotel [34]
2020 29 February IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel [35]
2021 5 March FAW Meeting held by videoconference[36] N/A [37]
2022 25 March[38] FIFA Meeting held by videoconference[36] N/A [39][40]
2023 4 March FA England London Wembley Stadium [41]

References

  1. ↑ Tom Dunmore (16 September 2011). Historical Dictionary of Soccer. Scarecrow Press. pp. 150–. ISBN 978-0-8108-7188-5. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  2. ↑ "Sin-bins will by considered by Fifa rulemakers Ifab after support from Sepp Blatter and Michel Platini". The Telegraph. 13 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "The International Match: England v Scotland". Nottingham Journal: 6. 27 January 1886.
  4. ↑ "Scottish Football Association". Cricket and Football Field: 12. 13 February 1886.
  5. ↑ The First Meeting of the International Football Association Board Archived 2007-10-07 at the Wayback Machine Soccer South Bay Referee Association
  6. ↑ TheFA.com - History of The FA Archived 19 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine Football Association
  7. ↑ "Minutes of the 1923 Annual General Meeting" (PDF). p. 5. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 "Article 7: General Assembly" (PDF). Statutes of the International Association Football Board (IFAB). 5 March 2016. Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 March 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  9. ↑ Form & Function FIFA - FIFA paper on the role of the IFAB
  10. ↑ FIFA.com
  11. ↑ FIFA Statutes FIFA
  12. ↑ Gibson, Owen (5 March 2016). "Football's lawmakers approve live trials for video technology to aid referees". The Observer. Archived from the original on 1 July 2023. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  13. ↑ Details from the IFAB archives {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603113335/http://ssbra.org/ifab/#/ |date=3 June 2016
  14. ↑ "International Football Conference at Wrexham". Wrexham Advertiser: 8. 30 June 1888.
  15. ↑ "International Football Conference". Northern Whig. Belfast (25215): 7. 3 June 1889.
  16. ↑ "Football: The International Association Board". Lancashire Evening Post (1127): 6. 3 June 1890.
  17. ↑ "International Football Board". The Standard. London (24953): 8. 13 June 1904.
  18. ↑ "FIFA to pay tribute to British football at International Football Association Board meeting in London". 13 February 2004. Archived from the original on 26 February 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  19. ↑ "FIFA Executive Committee and 118th International Football Association Board AGM Media Accreditation Request". Archived from the original on 15 February 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  20. ↑ "Summary of the 2005 Changes to the Laws of the Game" (PDF). American Youth Soccer Organization. 26 February 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  21. 1 2 "125th annual meeting of the International Football Association Board" (PDF). 5 March 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  22. ↑ "124th Annual General Meeting of the IFAB" (PDF). 6 March 2010. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  23. ↑ "Agenda of the 126th IFAB Annual General Meeting" (PDF). 3 March 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  24. ↑ "Agenda of the 2013 IFAB General Meeting" (PDF). 2 March 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  25. ↑ "Agenda: 128th Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board" (PDF). 1 March 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  26. ↑ "Minutes: 129th Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  27. ↑ "Irish Football Association: Activity Report 2014-2015" (PDF). p. 20. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 January 2019. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  28. ↑ "Agenda: 130th Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  29. ↑ "Minutes: 130th Annual General Meeting of The International Football Association Board" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 July 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2019.
  30. ↑ "Agenda: 131st Annual General Meeting of the International Football Association Board" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  31. ↑ "Minutes: 131st Annual General Meeting of The International Football Association Board" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  32. ↑ "132nd IFAB Annual General Meeting Agenda" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2019.
  33. ↑ "Minutes of the 132nd Annual General Meeting of The International Football Association Board" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  34. ↑ "SFA top brass will attend IFAB meeting to discuss rule changes". Archived from the original on 2 March 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  35. ↑ "Lawmakers discuss football rule changes at meeting in Holywood". 2 March 2020. Archived from the original on 22 March 2020. Retrieved 4 March 2020.
  36. 1 2 Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, delegates did not meet in person
  37. ↑ "135th IFAB Annual General Meeting Agenda". 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on 6 June 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  38. ↑ Postponed from previously scheduled date of 3 March -- see "136th IFAB Annual General Meeting postponed". 2 March 2022. Archived from the original on 1 July 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  39. ↑ "136th Annual General Meeting of The International Football Association Board: Amendments to the Laws of the Game 2022/23". 25 March 2022. Archived from the original on 1 July 2023. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  40. ↑ "IFAB 136th Annual General Meeting". Archived from the original on 1 July 2023. Retrieved 26 February 2022.
  41. ↑ "IFAB 137th Annual General Meeting". Archived from the original on 2 March 2023. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
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