Title: FIFA Council Approves Measures to Improve Player Behavior

The FIFA Council supported a series of measures aimed at improving player behavior and increasing respect for match officials during its annual meeting on Tuesday. The council backed a proposal to trial allowing only the team captain to approach the referee in certain match situations, and it also agreed to test the proposal for temporary dismissals for protests or specific tactical offenses. Temporary dismissals have been successfully implemented in some non-professional football competitions. The proposals will be considered at the council's annual general meeting in March, and any approved changes will be integrated into the laws of the game starting July 1, 2024. The members also agreed to continue developing semi-automatic offside technology to assist match officials in speeding up decision-making. The meeting discussed strategies to address time-wasting in games and tactics aimed at reducing the tempo of play, including restricting goalkeepers to six seconds to play the ball, resuming play after stoppages, and limiting simulation of injuries. The council also agreed that FIFA's successful initiative regarding the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology should be considered, which includes the referee explaining the final decision after reviewing the incident.