IFAB considering trialling kick-ins as alternative to throw-ins

If it ain't broke...

Football's lawmakers are giving serious thought to trialling kick-ins as an alternative to throw-ins. The International FA Board (IFAB) held its annual meeting on Monday in Doha, where several potential trials were discussed by members. Kick-ins, it has since been confirmed, was one of the ideas talked about, along with trials of alternative methods of measuring playing time. Arsene Wenger, currently Fifa's head of global football development, has previously voiced his support for a trial of kick-ins, believing they may help increase the amount of time the ball is in play. "There are two big time-wasters at the moment, that is throw-ins and free-kicks, and a little bit goal-kicks as well because when you play out now in the box," the former Arsenal manager said last year. "The target is to make the game more spectacular and quicker, and maybe with throw-ins you could play with your feet, but in a limit of five seconds for example, things like that." A statement from IFAB said: 'Other trials such as explaining certain refereeing decisions during a game, a potentially fairer calculation of playing time, and kick-ins were also discussed. 'The AGM was clear that these and any other trials require permission and will be supervised by the IFAB and FIFA.' Plans to change the way playing time is measured could see a stopwatch-style system used, with the clock stopped every time the ball is out of play. This would potentially see game time dropped to 60 minutes, instead of 90. It was also confirmed that IFAB would extend trials of concussion substitutes for another year 'to gather sufficient data to form a scientifically valid decision'. Related links:

• Former referee Mark Clattenburg calls for 60-minute matches with stop-clock
• ‘Landmark’ concussion sub only highlights new rules’ glaring flaw
• Headway question IFAB’s decision to trial permanent concussion substitutes