Governing Bodies
ON JUNE 12, THE ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP STANDS!
The June 12 date, which many politically sensitive Nigerians are aware of, is the date that the English Premiership has penciled down for the season’s restart.
The June 12 election in 1993 is widely believed to be the most credible poll ever conducted in Nigeria, yet the results were annulled by the Military. Twenty-seven years later, the English Premiership will restart on that date as timetable for the resumption of the 2019/20 season is unfolded.
According to Daily Mail, the first Premier League fixture is likely to be on Friday, June 12.
However, some Premier League clubs are arguing that relegation should be scrapped because games must be played at neutral grounds.
Brighton chief executive Paul Barber said: ‘Playing matches in neutral venues has the potential to have a material effect on the integrity of the competition.’
Brighton were due to be at home in five of their remaining nine matches. But there is growing consensus that the usual rules will have to apply to ensure competition is meaningful.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that initial plans for the restart centred on only four neutral grounds being used in the Midlands, but pushback from Premier League clubs meant that the league has now settled on eight to 10 grounds being used.
That is because the Government will only license a maximum of 10 grounds because of the fears of coronavirus contagion if matches were played home and away.
All games will be played behind closed doors initially.
A timetable has been proposed, though the Premier League has stressed to clubs that it will only be acted upon when the Government says it is safe.
However, the Government is keen for football to restart if it can as the economy tentatively begins to open up. The key dates pencilled in are May 11: a return to group training but with social distancing; May 25: contact training begins and June 12: Premier League matches resume.
There will be more detailed talks this week and the Professional Footballers’ Association will have to be consulted over key aspects to reassure players.
The idea of quarantining players in hotels is losing momentum.
However, there will still be a raft of medical protocols to observe before a restart and there are major problems to be resolved with players. These include all players being tested for respiratory problems and undergoing an electrocardiogram heart monitor test because it is feared the virus could damage heart muscle. It is unclear how to deal with players with asthma and diabetes.
One Football League club has five players with underlying health conditions who are at increased risk. It is unlikely they could take part in any restart and many clubs report similar problems.
All players and staff will be tested twice a week to minimise the risk. But it is impossible to eliminate all risk and explaining that to players while reassuring them that the risk can be kept within acceptable limits is key.
The Premier League have agreed to pay for all tests, which will be carried out independently, but the league will only allow that if the Government says that there is sufficient capacity for public testing. The same applies to ambulance capacity and the attendance of medics at matches.
Players already fill in a well-being app each day to record their sleep times and muscles strains. They will now have to record whether they or any member of their family has any coronavirus symptoms. If they do, they will have to be tested and not attend training.
Testing will be extended to players’ families, but that will only be allowed if there is sufficient public testing capacity. Players will have to follow strict rules at home which will mean they remain under effective lockdown even if the restrictions are eased for the general population.
If a player tests positive they will be withdrawn and isolate for seven or 14 days. Crucially, the entire squad will not have to be isolated. They will all be immediately tested and any further cases withdrawn. It has not been decided how many players testing positive would trigger a match being postponed. Physios and medics will be able to work as long as they use personal protective equipment.
A key point raised was that teams should not play in their home cities, thus discouraging crowds from gathering outside grounds.
The Premier League want both sides travelling approximately the same distance which is why many games will be in The Midlands. Molineux and the King Power Stadium are expected to be among the approved grounds.
Spacious stadiums which allow social distancing and are less prone to crowds gathering are more likely to receive a licence. Wembley is expected to host the FA Cup final and therefore may also be included as one of the neutral venues but most will be existing Premier League stadia.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden and the Government’s deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam met with the medical chiefs of the Premier League, the FA, the English Cricket Board, the Rugby Football Union and the British Horseracing Authority last week to establish the medical protocols for returning to sport and another meeting is expected this week. Government sources insist that the mooted point of raising the nation’s morale with the return of sport is not part of the discussions and that sport will only resume when medical experts deem it safe.
All games will be screened live and TV companies would like matches played every day of the week. Whether the FA Cup is interspersed within those games or comes as a week-long fiesta of football at the end of the season is under debate.
Although UEFA has stated that domestic leagues are the priority, the FA Cup will finish this season if the Premier League resumes.
FA chief executive Mark Bullingham has said that the national governing body will lose more than £100m because of the coronavirus pandemic. As such, it is financially imperative that the FA Cup resumes, if permitted by the Government.
That has been central to discussions as Premier League clubs are well aware of the financial pressures the FA are under, having had Euro 2020 cancelled and all international games called off for the foreseeable future.
The FA Cup final has been pencilled in for Saturday, August 8, although a midweek date of August 5 is also under consideration. It is expected to be the final game of the season. It is unclear where the protocols and restrictions under which football will operate will leave the English Football League. Sources at the EFL insist that they await Government advice, but the official position is that they want to resume the season whenever they can, playing home and away fixtures.
Given that the Government will only license certain neutral grounds and there is the costly logistics of tens of thousands of tests, it seems unlikely that could happen in June for League One and Two teams. One EFL club owner said that the likelihood of resuming the season now was as low as five per cent, though others remain determined to try until the last possible moment.
The Confederation of African Football has dismissed Yasin Osman Robleh, the Djiboutian official who headed its judicial bodies for the past six years, in a move aimed at restoring confidence in the organisation’s disciplinary processes.
According to reports from convergence sources, the decision was confirmed on Saturday by CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba, bringing an abrupt end to Robleh’s tenure overseeing the confederation’s disciplinary and investigative committees since 2019.
Robleh’s position reportedly came under increasing pressure following the controversy surrounding sanctions imposed after the Africa Cup of Nations Final between Morocco and Senegal. The disciplinary decisions that followed the match sparked criticism from several quarters and placed CAF’s legal framework under intense scrutiny.
In response to the situation, CAF’s Executive Committee has appointed Togolese lawyer Cedric Egai, currently the confederation’s Director of Legal Affairs, as interim head of the judicial bodies.
Egai is expected to stabilise the organisation’s legal arm while CAF works toward appointing a permanent successor to Robleh.
Disciplinary Decisions Delayed
The leadership change has already affected ongoing disciplinary processes within the confederation. CAF’s disciplinary committee reportedly held hearings last Thursday on several cases, including the high-profile encounter involving Egypt’s Al Ahly and Morocco’s AS FAR.
However, decisions on those matters have been temporarily put on hold pending the confirmation of new leadership within the judicial structure.
Sources indicate that once a permanent successor is appointed, CAF will move swiftly to conclude outstanding disciplinary rulings affecting both clubs and national teams.
Restoring Confidence
The move is widely seen as part of CAF’s effort to restore confidence in its judicial system following weeks of controversy surrounding disciplinary decisions at major competitions.
Robleh’s departure closes a significant chapter in CAF’s legal administration, while Egai’s interim appointment signals a potential shift in leadership and governance at a critical time for African football.
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Governing Bodies
Countdown Rule Introduced To Crack Down on Time-Wasting in Substitutions and Spot Kicks
Global football’s law-making body, The International Football Association Board (IFAB), has approved a landmark package of reforms aimed at protecting effective playing time, reducing time-wasting and strengthening disciplinary oversight ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The decisions were taken at IFAB’s 140th Annual General Meeting (AGM), chaired by Mike Jones, President of the Football Association of Wales, during celebrations marking the FAW’s 150th anniversary.
The reforms, which will apply from the 2026/27 season and be implemented at the 2026 World Cup and other competitions, respond to growing calls across the football community for measures that preserve match tempo and reduce deliberate disruption.
Five-Second Countdown for Throw-Ins and Goal Kicks
Building on last season’s amendment preventing goalkeepers from holding the ball for excessive periods, IFAB has extended the countdown principle to throw-ins and goal kicks.
If a referee judges that a restart is being deliberately delayed, a visible five-second countdown will begin. Failure to put the ball back into play within that period will result in possession being awarded to the opposing team. In the case of a delayed goal kick, the sanction escalates to a corner kick for the opposition.
The measure is designed to eliminate a common time-management tactic frequently deployed late in matches.
Strict Timelines for Substitutions
To further streamline match flow, substituted players must leave the field within 10 seconds of the substitution board being displayed or the referee’s signal being given.
Players who exceed that limit must still exit immediately, but their replacement will not be allowed to enter until the next stoppage after one minute of running clock time has elapsed — effectively discouraging slow exits intended to run down the clock.
Mandatory One-Minute Absence After On-Field Treatment
Under another significant change, players who receive on-field medical assessment — or whose injury prompts a stoppage — must leave the pitch and remain off for at least one minute once play resumes.
The rule aims to curb tactical injury interruptions while still safeguarding genuine medical needs.
IFAB also approved further trials to assess goalkeeper-related tactical injury delays and explore deterrent options.
VAR Protocol Expanded to Include Second Yellow Cards
In a notable development for officiating, IFAB expanded the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocol.
The VAR will now be permitted to review:
- Red cards resulting from a clearly incorrect second yellow card;
- Mistaken identity cases where the wrong player is cautioned or sent off;
- Clearly incorrectly awarded corner kicks, provided the review can be completed immediately without delaying the restart.
The move addresses longstanding criticism that second cautions — unlike straight red cards — were previously outside VAR review scope, despite their decisive impact on matches.
IFAB also confirmed continued trials of semi-automated offside technology (SAOT) and ongoing development of FIFA-led Football Video Support (FVS).
Amendments to the Laws of the Game 2026/27
The next edition of the Laws of the Game, effective 1 July 2026 (with early adoption permitted), will introduce further clarifications and adjustments:
- Law 3: Senior ‘A’ international friendlies may now allow up to eight substitutes, expandable to eleven by mutual agreement.
- Law 4: Non-dangerous equipment will be permitted if safely covered.
- Law 5: Referee body cameras (head- or chest-mounted) may be used at competition discretion, with organisers controlling footage.
- Law 8: Clarifies that a dropped ball will be awarded to the team that would likely have retained possession.
- Laws 10 & 14: Formal incorporation of guidance on accidental “double touch” penalty incidents.
- Law 12: Where advantage is played for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity and a goal is scored, the offender will not be cautioned.
Focus on Discriminatory Behaviour and Player Protests
Looking ahead to the 2026 World Cup, IFAB agreed that further consultation will be undertaken to develop tougher measures against discriminatory conduct.
The board will also examine scenarios where:
- Players leave the field collectively in protest of refereeing decisions;
- Players cover their mouths while confronting opponents — a practice viewed as undermining transparency.
A Forward-Looking Agenda
The AGM, attended by representatives from FIFA, The FA, the Scottish FA, the FA of Wales, the Irish FA and IFAB administration, signals what officials described as a decisive effort to modernise the sport.
With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, IFAB’s reforms represent one of the most comprehensive tempo-focused overhauls in recent years — an attempt to ensure that football remains faster, fairer and more resistant to manipulation of time.
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Governing Bodies
Infantino marks 10 years as FIFA President, hails reforms and global expansion of the game
Gianni Infantino has marked the 10th anniversary of his election as FIFA President by declaring that “we have brought football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football,” while thanking the organisation’s 211 member associations for their support over the past decade.
In a letter sent to the presidents of all 211 member associations, Infantino reflected on his election at the Extraordinary Congress in Zurich, Switzerland, on 26 February 2016, recalling that FIFA was facing a crisis that threatened its very existence at the time.
“By voting for me, the FIFA Congress chose to chart a new path forward built on reform, transparency and development,” he wrote. “I believe we have successfully brought football back to FIFA and FIFA back to football. And we have done so together.”
Infantino stressed that unity between FIFA and its Member Associations had been central to the organisation’s transformation.
“It is therefore with a great sense of unity that I would like to extend my deepest thanks for your work, your dedication and, of course, your unwavering support in making this possible and for your role in bringing FIFA back to football over the last 10 years,” he said.
Describing FIFA as “the glue that binds the footballing pyramid and the wider footballing ecosystem together,” Infantino underlined the importance of a strong and trusted governing body for the continued growth of the sport.
“A strong, trusted and unified FIFA is not only desirable, but also in fact necessary for our sport to continue to flourish,” he added. “Although we live in a world marked by division and conflict, football is still the great power that unites us all.”
Key achievements highlighted
In his message, the FIFA President outlined 11 major achievements since 2016, beginning with increased financial support to Member Associations through the FIFA Forward Programme. Introduced in 2016, funding to MAs has increased sevenfold, with associations empowered to determine how best to invest in football development within their territories.
He also pointed to the FIFA Talent Development Scheme, designed to ensure that every young player has the opportunity to develop regardless of financial background or geography, alongside enhanced capacity building in administration, finance, infrastructure, medical services, safeguarding and women’s leadership.
Infantino noted greater involvement of Member Associations in decision-making through FIFA Executive Summits and newly introduced Standing Committees, as well as reforms aimed at boosting transparency, including annual accounts delivered under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and clearer bidding processes for major tournaments.
On the field, the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in 2018 — now implemented in 83 Member Associations — was cited as a key step towards greater fairness. FIFA has since introduced VAR Light and Football Video Support to widen access to video technology. In 2024, all 211 MAs also unanimously backed a Global Stand Against Racism initiative.
Infantino further highlighted expanded playing opportunities across competitions. The FIFA World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, while the FIFA Women’s World Cup grew to 32 teams in 2023 and is set to expand to 48 from 2031. More than 1,700 women’s development projects have been delivered across 204 Member Associations.
Youth competitions have also been broadened, including the expansion of the FIFA U-17 World Cup for both boys and girls and the introduction of a new festival-style FIFA U-15 Youth World Cup open to all 211 MAs.
The letter referenced relief measures during times of hardship, notably the COVID-19 Relief Plan, which made USD 1.5 billion available, emergency disaster funding via the FIFA Foundation, and a post-conflict recovery fund approved in December 2025 to support football communities affected by war.
At club level, Infantino highlighted the historic first 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in 2025, the new FIFA Women’s Club World Cup planned for 2028, and the launch of annual intercontinental competitions and an expanded FIFA Club Benefits Programme.
Concluding his message, Infantino reiterated his gratitude to Member Associations for “keeping the best interests of football at heart,” expressing confidence that a united global football community would continue to drive the sport’s growth in the years ahead.
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