1902
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The International Football Association Board meeting  
MINUTES OF ANNUAL MEETING
 

HELD AT THE GRAND HOTEL, SCARBOROUGH, ON MONDAY, THE 16TH JUNE, 1902.
 

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Present:—Messrs. C. Crump (Chairman), R. P. Gregson (The Football Association), A. R. Kirkwood, R. Dickson (Scottish Football Association), D. W. Foy, J. Sheehan (Irish Football Association), T. E. Thomas, J. Davies (Football Association of Wales) ; also present : F. J. Wall (Secretary The Football Association) and J. K. McDowall (Secretary Scottish Football Association).

Minutes of Meeting held at the Royal Hotel, Giant's Causeway, Ireland, on the 17th June, 1901, were read and confirmed.

Laws of the Game.—The proposals by The Football Association for alteration of the Laws of the Game were considered, and amended as follows, and adopted :—

1.—The game should be played by 11 players on each side. The field of play shall be as shown in the plan at the end of these Laws, subject to the following provisions :The dimensions of the field of play shall be—maximum length, 130 yards ; minimum length, 100 yards ; maximum breadth, 100 yards ; minimum breadth, 50 yards. The field of play shall be marked by boundary lines. The lines at each end are the goal-lines, and the lines at the sides are the touch-lines. The touch-lines shall be drawn at right angles with the goal-lines. A flag with a staff not less than 5 feet high shall be placed at each corner.  A half-way line shall be marked out across the field of play. The centre of the field of play shall be indicated by a suitable mark, and a circle with a 10 yards radius shall be made round it. The goals shall be upright posts fixed on the goal-lines, equi-distant from the corner flag staffs, 8 yards apart, with a bar across them 8 feet from the ground. The maximum width of the goal-posts and the maximum depth of the cross-bar shall be 5 inches. Lines shall be marked 6 yards from each goal-post at right angles to the goal-lines for a distance of 6 yards, and these shall be connected with each other by a line parallel to the goal-lines ; the space within these lines shall be the goal area. Lines shall be marked 18 yards from each goal-post at right angles to the goal-lines for a distance of 18 yards, and these shall be connected with each other by a line parallel to the goal-lines ' the space within these lines shall be the penalty area. A suitable mark shall be made opposite the centre of each goal, 12 yards from the goal-line ; this shall be the penalty kick mark.  The circumference  of the ball  shall not be less  than 27  inches,  nor

more than 28 inches. In International matches, the dimensions of the field of play shall be—maximum length, 110 yards ; maximum breadth 80 yards ; minimum breadth, 70 yards ; and at the commencement of the game the weight of the ball shall be from 13 to 15 ounces.

4.Except as otherwise provided by these laws, a goal shall be scored when the ball has passed between the goal-posts under the bar, not being thrown, knocked on, nor carried by any player of the attacking side. If from any cause during the progress of the game the bar is displaced, the Referee shall have power to award a goal if in his opinion the ball would have passed under the bar if it had not been displaced. The ball is in play if it rebounds from a goal-post, cross-bar, or a corner flagstaff into the field of play. The ball is in play if it touches the Referee or a Linesman when in the field of play. The ball is out of play when it has crossed the goal-line or touch-line, either on the ground or in the air.

7.When the ball is played behind the goal-line by a player of the opposite side, it shall be kicked off by any one of the players behind whose goal-line it went, within that half of the goal area nearest the point where the ball left the field of play ; but, if played behind by any one of the side whose goal-line it is, a player of the opposite side shall kick it from within 1 yard of the nearest corner flag-staff. In either case an opponent shall not be allowed within 6 yards of the ball until it is kicked off.

  

8.—The goal-keeper may within his own half of the field of play, use his hands, but shall not carry the ball. The goal-keeper shall not be charged except when he is holding the ball, or obstructing an opponent, or when he has passed outside the goal area. The goal-keeper may be changed during the game, but notice of such change must first be given to the Referee.

9.In no case shall a goal be scored from any free-kick, nor shall the ball be again played by the kicker until it has been played by another player. The kick-off, corner-kick, and goal-kick shall be free-kicks within the meaning of this Law.

10.Neither tripping, kicking, nor jumping at a player shall be allowed. A player (the goal-keeper excepted), shall not intentionally handle the ball under any pretence whatever. A player shall not use his hands to hold or push an opponent. A player shall not be charged from behind, unless he is facing his own goal, and is also intentionally impeding an opponent.

13.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-kick, goal-kick, or throw-in ; and to assist the Referee in carrying out the game in accordance with the Laws. In the event of any undue interference or improper conduct by a Linesman the Referee shall have power to order him off the field of play and appoint a substitute, and report the circumstances to the National Association having jurisdiction over him, who shall deal with the matter.

14.In the event of a supposed infringement of the Laws, the ball shall be in play until a decision has been given.

15.In the event of any temporary suspension of play from any cause, the  ball not having gone into touch  or  behind the goal-line,  the Referee

shall throw the ball up where it was when play was suspended, and the ball shall be in play when it has touched the ground. If the ball goes into touch or behind the goal-line before it is played by a player, the Referee shall again throw it up. The players on either side shall not play the ball until it has touched the ground.

16.—In the event of any infringement of Laws 2, 5, 6, 8, 9 or 15, a free-kick shall be awarded to the opposite side, from the place where the infringement occurred. In the event of any intentional infringement of Law 10 outside the penalty area, or by the attacking side within the penalty area, a free kick shall be awarded to the opposite side from the place where the infringement occurred. In the event of any intentional infringement of Law 10 by the defending side within the penalty area, the Referee shall award the opponents a penalty kick which shall be taken from the penalty kick mark under the following conditions ;—All players, with the exception of the player taking the penalty kick and the opponents' goal-keeper shall be outside the penalty area. The opponents' goal-keeper shall be within the goal area. The ball must be kicked forward. The ball shall be in play when the kick is taken, and a goal may be scored from a penalty kick ; but the ball shall not be again played by the kicker until it has been played by another player. If necessary, time of play shall be extended to admit of the penalty kick being taken. A free kick shall also be awarded to the opposite side if the ball is not kicked forward, or is played a second time by the player who takes the penalty kick, until it has been played by another player.

DEFINITION OF TERMS.

HANDLING AND TRIPPING.—Handling is intentionally playing the ball with the hand or arm, and Tripping is intentionally throwing, or attempting to throw, an opponent by the use of the legs, or by stooping in front of or behind him.


PLAN OF THE FIELD OF PLAY.
 
Referred to in Law of the Game 1.


The Board were unable to approve of the following proposal by the Scottish Football Association ;—

Law 6.—After word "played," to read ;— "Unless there are at such moment of playing or throwing in at least two of his opponents nearer their own goal line."

The following proposals by the Scottish Football Association were withdrawn, the principle having been adopted upon the proposals of The Football Association ;

Law 14.—Delete "12 yards from his own goal line" and substitute "a radius of 12 yards from either goal post."

ALTERNATE PROPOSAL—Law 14.—Delete "any point 12 yards from the goal line" and insert "the 12 yards line opposite to where the infringement took place."

The Board decided that the Touch and Goal lines must not be marked by a V-shaped rut.

Law 2.—The Board decided that if the ball is nor properly kicked off, a free-kick must be given to the opponents.

Law 10.—The Board came to the following decision ;—Cases of handling the ball, and tripping, pushing, kicking or holding an opponent, and charging an opponent from behind may so happen as to be considered unintentional, and when this is so, no penalty must be awarded.

The following Agreement was approved as applicable and binding upon the four National Associations ;

"Any case of misconduct on the part of Clubs, players or officials which may occur in connection with any match shall be dealt with by the Association under whose jurisdiction that match is played, and each Association will adopt  and carry out the decision of the other with regard to such cases."

The Board recommended that each Association should print in its Book of Rules the Agreements from time to time entered into by the International Board.

A letter was read from the Dutch F.A. [ referred by The Football Association ] suggesting the playing of matches with teams representing the Dutch Association, and also the founding of an International Association to promote football in Europe, arrange an International Championship, and secure uniformity in the laws of the game for all countries. The Board decided to send a copy of the letter to the Associations of Scotland, Ireland and Wales for consideration and report.

Law 16.—The Board decided that a penalty kick can be awarded irrespective of the position of the ball at the time the offence is committed.

A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. C. Crump for acting as Chairman.

CHAs. CRUMP,

Chairman.

  CG