The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is an international self-regulatory body of association football that is known for determining the Laws of the Game, the regulations for the gameplay of football. It was founded in 1886 in order to establish standardised regulations or "Laws" for the gameplay of international competition, and has since acted as the primary maintainer ("Guardian") of these Laws. FIFA, a prominent governing body for football, has recognised IFAB's jurisdiction over its Laws since its establishment in 1904.[1]

Quick Facts Abbreviation, Founded ...
International Football Association Board
AbbreviationIFAB
Founded2 June 1886; 138 years ago (1886-06-02)
Founded atManchester, England
TypeSelf-regulatory body
PurposeManagement of the Laws of the Game
HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
Location
Region served
Worldwide
Membership
Secretary
Lukas Brud
Websitewww.theifab.com Edit this at Wikidata
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IFAB is a distinct body from FIFA, although FIFA is represented on the board and holds 50% of the voting power. The founding football associations of IFAB, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales each have permanent seats on the organisation. Amendments to the Laws mandate a three-quarter supermajority vote, meaning that FIFA's support is necessary but not sufficient for a motion to pass.

History

Establishment

Thumb
The Laws of the Game in 1903

Although the rules of football had largely been standardised by the early 1880s, England's Football Association (The FA), the Scottish Football Association (SFA), the Football Association of Wales (FAW) and the Irish Football Association (IFA) had conflicting rules. When international matches were played, the rules of the home team's national association were used. While this solution was technically feasible, it was impractical. To remedy this, the FAs initialised a meeting on 6 December 1882 in Queen’s Hotel, Manchester in order to systematise a set of rules that could be applied uniformly to matches between the UK football associations' national teams. This was later named the “International Football Conference”.

In the summer of 1885, the English FA declared that it legalised professionalism.[2] 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 arbitrate 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]

Inaugural meeting and FIFA’s integration

The initial meeting of IFAB took place at The FA's offices at Holborn Viaduct in London on 2 June 1886.[5] The FA, SFA, FAW and IFA each had equal voting rights. It was chaired by Sir Francis Marindin, and attended by Charles W. Alcock acting as Secretary.[6] The meeting was notable for Marindin’s proposal, which outlined "That no player shall wear any kind of projection on the soles of heels of his boots with the exception of flat leather bars of an approved pattern".[6]

During IFAB’s annual general meeting (AGM) on 8 June 1912, the secretary, J.K. McDowall, scrutinised a letter that was attributed to the recently established FIFA, requesting that IFAB would invite a member of FIFA to sit on the Board.[7] The petition was analysed, and IFAB concluded that it wasn’t the right time to establish FIFA as a member, and McDowall proceeded to write a response to the organisation explaining the consensus. At a special meeting held on 25 January 1913 in Wrexham, IFAB approved FIFA’s request after a proposition by The FA was made proposing that two members from FIFA should attend the board, making FIFA the fifth member of IFAB.

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 regarding payments to amateur players. From 1924, the dispute had been reconciled, and FIFA resumed attendance of IFAB meetings. In 1958, the Board agreed on a voting system that would be used to this day.[8]

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.[9]

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 Federation of Association Football), 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.[10] 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.[10]

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.[10] 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.[11] 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.[12]

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.[13] As well as permanent changes to the Laws, IFAB also authorises trials of potential amendments.[14]

Panels and Subcommittees

Source:[15]

Advisory Panel

Technical Panel

Technical Subcommittee

List of IFAB Annual General Meetings

More information Year, Date ...
Year Date Host Location Venue FA SFA FAW IFA FIFA Required
to amend laws
Notes / references[16]
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
2 2 2 2 0 100% First meeting to amend the Laws of the Game
1888 25 June FAW Wales Wrexham Wynnstay Arms Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% [17]
1889 1 June IFA Ireland Belfast Commercial Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% [18]
1890 2 June FA England London Anderton's Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% [19]
1891 2 June SFA Scotland Glasgow Alexandra Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1892 13 June FAW Wales Llandudno Prince of Wales Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1893 10 June IFA Ireland Belfast Hotel Shaftesbury 2 2 2 2 0 100% Date of subsequent meetings fixed to be the third Monday in June.
1894 18 June FA England Windermere Ferry Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1895 17 June SFA Scotland Glasgow Alexandra Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1896 15 June FAW Wales Aberystwyth White Horse Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1897 14 June IFA Ireland Rostrevor, Newry Mourne Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1898 20 June FA England London Football Association Offices,
61 Chancery Lane
2 2 2 2 0 100%
1899 19 June SFA Scotland Glasgow St. Enoch's Station Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1900 18 June FAW Wales Llangollen Royal Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1901 17 June IFA Ireland Giant's Causeway, Bushmills 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1902 16 June FA England Scarborough Grand Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1903 15 June SFA Scotland Ayr Station Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% Date of subsequent meetings moved to the second Saturday in June.
1904 11 June FAW Wales Bangor British Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% [20]
1905 17 June IFA Ireland Killarney Lake Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% First meeting to be held outside today's United Kingdom.
1906 9 June FA England Bowness-on-Windermere Royal Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1907 8 June SFA Scotland Oban Alexandra Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1908 19–20 June FAW Wales Llandrindod Wells Rock Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1909 12 June IFA Ireland Bundoran Great Northern Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1910 11 June FA England Brighton Royal York Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1911 11 June SFA Scotland Turnberry, Ayrshire Station Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1912 8 June FAW Wales Aberystwyth Queen's Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
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 2 2 2 2 2 80% 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 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1922 10 June FAW Wales Llandudno Imperial Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1923 9 June IFA Northern Ireland Giant's Causeway, Bushmills Causeway Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% 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 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1926 12 June SFA Scotland St Andrews Grand Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1927 11 June FAW Wales Llandudno Grand Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1928 9 June IFA Northern Ireland Newcastle Slieve Donard Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1929 8 June FIFA France Paris Fédération Française de Football Association Offices,
22 Rue de Londres
2 2 2 2 2 80%
1930 14 June FA England Bournemouth Royal Exeter Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1931 13 June SFA Scotland Auchterarder Gleneagles Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1932 11 June FAW Wales Llandudno Imperial Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1933 10 June IFA Northern Ireland Portrush Northern Counties Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80% 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 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1935 8 June FA England Shanklin Daish's Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1936 13 June SFA Scotland Troon Marine Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1937 12 June FAW Wales Llandudno Imperial Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1938 11 & 13 June IFA Northern Ireland Portrush Northern Counties Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1939 10 June FIFA France Nice Hotel Negresco 2 2 2 2 2 80% 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 2 2 2 2 2 80% First meeting held after World War II.
1948 12 June FIFA Switzerland Montreux Palace Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80% 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 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1950 10 June FAW Wales Beaumaris Bulkeley Arms Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1951 9 June IFA Northern Ireland Portrush Northern Counties Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1952 14 June FIFA Italy Capri Morgano-Tiberio Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80% Date of future meetings moved to third Saturday in June.
1953 20 June FA England Eastbourne Cavendish Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1954 19 June FIFA Switzerland Bern Schweizerhof Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80% 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 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1956 16 June FAW Wales Llandudno Imperial Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1957 15 June IFA Northern Ireland Portrush Northern Counties Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
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 1 1 1 1 4 75% 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 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1961 17 June FAW Wales Porthcawl Seabank Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1962 23 June IFA Northern Ireland Newcastle Slieve Donard Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1963 15 June FIFA Italy Venice Palazzo della Camera di Commercio 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1964 20 June FA Jersey St. Helier, Jersey Grand Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1965 19 June SFA Scotland Edinburgh Caledonian Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1966 11 June FAW Wales Llandudno Marine Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1967 17 June IFA Northern Ireland Newcastle Slieve Donard Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% 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 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1969 21 June FA Jersey St. Helier, Jersey Grand Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1970 27 June SFA Scotland Inverness Caledonian Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1971 19 June FAW Wales Swansea Dragon Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1972 10 June FIFA Austria Vienna Parkhotel Schönbrunn 1 1 1 1 4 75% FIFA stepped in to replace the IFA.
1973 23 June FA Guernsey St Peter Port, Guernsey Duke of Richmond Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1974 9 July FIFA West Germany Rottach-Egern Hotel Bachmair 1 1 1 1 4 75% 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 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1976 18 June FAW Wales Porthcawl Seabank Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1977 19 June FA England London Royal Garden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% The IFA withdrew from hosting this meeting.
1978 1 June FIFA Argentina Buenos Aires Hotel Sheraton 1 1 1 1 4 75% First meeting outside Europe. Held on the opening day of the 1978 World Cup.
1979 16 June SFA Scotland Auchterarder Gleneagles Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1980 7 June IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1981 13 June FAW Wales Ruthin Ruthin Castle 1 1 1 1 4 75% 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 1 1 1 1 4 75% Meeting held the day after the final of the 1982 World Cup
1983 9 July FA England New Milton Chewton Glen Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1984 2 June SFA Scotland Turnberry, Ayrshire Turnberry Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1985 15 June IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1986 30 May FIFA Mexico Mexico City Camino Real Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% 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 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1988 4 June FA England London Royal Lancaster Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1989 7 June SFA Scotland Edinburgh Caledonian Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1990 28 June FIFA Italy Rome Hilton Cavalieri Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% Held during the 1990 World Cup
1991 8 June IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1992 30 May FAW Wales Usk Valley, Newport Celtic Manor Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% 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 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1994 5 March FIFA Switzerland Zürich FIFA House 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1995 4 March SFA Scotland Turnberry, Ayrshire Turnberry Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1996 9 March FIFA Brazil Rio de Janeiro Copacabana Palace Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% 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 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1998 6 March FIFA France Paris Hôtel Plaza Athénée 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1999 20 February FAW Wales Groes-faen, Vale of Glamorgan Miskin Manor Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2000 19 February FA England Taplow, Berkshire Cliveden 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2001 10 March SFA Scotland Edinburgh Balmoral Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2002 16 March FIFA Switzerland Zermatt Hôtel Mont Cervin 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2003 15 March IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2004 28 February FIFA England London Claridge's Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% 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.[21][22]
2005 26 February FAW Wales Groes-faen, Vale of Glamorgan Miskin Manor Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% [23]
2006 4 March FIFA Switzerland Lucerne Palace Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% 120th anniversary.[24]
2007 3 March FA England Manchester Lowry Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2008 8 March SFA Scotland Auchterarder Gleneagles Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2009 28 February IFA Northern Ireland Newcastle Slieve Donard Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2010 6 March FIFA Switzerland Zürich FIFA headquarters 1 1 1 1 4 75% [25]
2011 5 March FAW Wales Usk Valley, Newport Celtic Manor Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% [24]
2012 3 March FA England Bagshot, Surrey Pennyhill Park Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% [26]
2013 2 March SFA Scotland Edinburgh Balmoral Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% [27]
2014 1 March FIFA Switzerland Zürich FIFA headquarters 1 1 1 1 4 75% [28]
2015 27 February1 March IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% [29][30]
2016 5 March FAW Wales Cardiff St. David's Hotel and Spa 1 1 1 1 4 75% 130th Anniversary.[31][32]
2017 3 March FA England Wembley, London Wembley Stadium 1 1 1 1 4 75% [33][34]
2018 3 March FIFA Switzerland Zürich FIFA headquarters 1 1 1 1 4 75% [35][36]
2019 2 March SFA Scotland Aberdeen Marcliffe Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% [37]
2020 29 February IFA Northern Ireland Craigavad, Holywood Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% [38]
2021 5 March FAW Meeting held by videoconference[39] N/A 1 1 1 1 4 75% [40]
2022 25 March[41] FIFA Meeting held by videoconference[39] N/A 1 1 1 1 4 75% [42][43]
2023 4 March FA England London Wembley Stadium 1 1 1 1 4 75% [44]
2024 2 March SFA Scotland Loch Lomond Cameron House 1 1 1 1 4 75% [45]
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References

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