International Football Association Board

(Redirected from IFAB)

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox organization

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.<ref name="Dunmore2011">Template:Cite book</ref>

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.

HistoryEdit

EstablishmentEdit

File:1903 Laws of the Game.pdf
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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> 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".<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Inaugural meeting and FIFA’s integrationEdit

The initial meeting of IFAB took place at The FA's offices at Holborn Viaduct in London on 2 June 1886.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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".<ref name=":1" />

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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-warEdit

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.<ref>Annual General Meeting 1958 - Minutes. Retrieved April 11, 2024.</ref>

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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

OperationsEdit

MembershipEdit

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.<ref name="IFAB Article 7">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref name="IFAB Article 7"/>

Meetings of the boardEdit

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.<ref name="IFAB Article 7"/> 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.<ref>Form & Function FIFA - FIFA paper on the role of the IFAB</ref> 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.<ref>FIFA.com</ref>

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.<ref>FIFA Statutes FIFA</ref> As well as permanent changes to the Laws, IFAB also authorises trials of potential amendments.<ref name="videotrials">Template:Cite news</ref>

Panels and SubcommitteesEdit

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Advisory PanelEdit

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Technical PanelEdit

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Technical SubcommitteeEdit

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List of IFAB Annual General MeetingsEdit

Year Date Host Location Venue FA SFA FAW IFA FIFA Required
to amend laws
Notes / references<ref>Details from the IFAB archives Template:Webarchive</ref>
1886 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Template:Nowrap
51 Holborn Viaduct
2 2 2 2 0 100% First meeting
1887 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Template:Nowrap
6 Carlton Place
2 2 2 2 0 100% First meeting to amend the Laws of the Game
1888 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Wynnstay Arms Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% <ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
1889 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Commercial Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% <ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
1890 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Anderton's Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% <ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
1891 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Alexandra Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1892 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Prince of Wales Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1893 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Hotel Shaftesbury 2 2 2 2 0 100% Date of subsequent meetings fixed to be the third Monday in June.
1894 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Ferry Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1895 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Alexandra Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1896 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap White Horse Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1897 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Mourne Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1898 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Football Association Offices,
61 Chancery Lane
2 2 2 2 0 100%
1899 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap St. Enoch's Station Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1900 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Royal Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1901 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1902 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Grand Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1903 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Station Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% Date of subsequent meetings moved to the second Saturday in June.
1904 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap British Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% <ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
1905 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Lake Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% First meeting to be held outside today's United Kingdom.
1906 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Royal Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1907 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Alexandra Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1908 19–20 June FAW Template:Nowrap Rock Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1909 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Great Northern Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1910 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Royal York Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1911 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Station Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1912 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Queen's Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1913 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Northern Counties Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80% First meeting to include FIFA
1914 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Nowrap Torbay Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% First meeting after the First World War.
FIFA again excluded.
1921 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Portpatrick Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1922 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Imperial Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100%
1923 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Causeway Hotel 2 2 2 2 0 100% Last meeting to exclude FIFA
1924 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Football Association Offices,
42 Russell Square
2 2 2 2 2 80%
1925 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap 11 Rue de Londres 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1926 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Grand Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1927 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Grand Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1928 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Slieve Donard Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1929 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Fédération Française de Football Association Offices,
22 Rue de Londres
2 2 2 2 2 80%
1930 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Royal Exeter Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1931 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Gleneagles Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1932 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Imperial Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1933 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Hôtel des Anglais 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1935 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Daish's Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1936 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Marine Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1937 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Imperial Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1938 11 & 13 June IFA Template:Nowrap Northern Counties Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1939 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Imperial Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80% First meeting held after World War II.
1948 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Hydro Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1950 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Bulkeley Arms Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1951 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Northern Counties Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1952 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Morgano-Tiberio Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80% Date of future meetings moved to third Saturday in June.
1953 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Cavendish Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1954 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Marine Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1956 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Imperial Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1957 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Northern Counties Hotel 2 2 2 2 2 80%
1958 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Rusack's Marine Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1961 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Seabank Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1962 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Slieve Donard Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1963 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Palazzo della Camera di Commercio 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1964 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Grand Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1965 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Caledonian Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1966 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Marine Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1967 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Hotel Excelsior 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1969 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Grand Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1970 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Caledonian Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1971 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Dragon Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1972 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Parkhotel Schönbrunn 1 1 1 1 4 75% FIFA stepped in to replace the IFA.
1973 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Duke of Richmond Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1974 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Gleneagles Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1976 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Seabank Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1977 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Royal Garden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% The IFA withdrew from hosting this meeting.
1978 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Hotel Sheraton 1 1 1 1 4 75% First meeting outside Europe. Held on the opening day of the 1978 World Cup.
1979 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Gleneagles Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1980 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1981 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Palacio de Congresos 1 1 1 1 4 75% Meeting held the day after the final of the 1982 World Cup
1983 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Chewton Glen Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1984 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Turnberry Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1985 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1986 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Bodysgallen Hall 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1988 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Royal Lancaster Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1989 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Caledonian Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1990 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Hilton Cavalieri Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% Held during the 1990 World Cup
1991 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1992 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Hanbury Manor 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1994 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap FIFA House 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1995 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Turnberry Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1996 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap 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 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1998 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Hôtel Plaza Athénée 1 1 1 1 4 75%
1999 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Miskin Manor Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2000 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Cliveden 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2001 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Balmoral Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2002 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Hôtel Mont Cervin 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2003 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2004 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Claridge's Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2005 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Miskin Manor Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2006 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap Palace Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2007 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Lowry Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2008 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Gleneagles Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2009 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Slieve Donard Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75%
2010 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap FIFA headquarters 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2011 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap Celtic Manor Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% <ref name=":0" />
2012 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Pennyhill Park Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2013 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Balmoral Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2014 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap FIFA headquarters 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2015 Template:NowrapTemplate:Nowrap IFA Template:Nowrap Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2016 Template:Dts FAW Template:Nowrap St. David's Hotel and Spa 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2017 Template:Dts FA Template:Nowrap Wembley Stadium 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2018 Template:Dts FIFA Template:Nowrap FIFA headquarters 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2019 Template:Dts SFA Template:Nowrap Marcliffe Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2020 Template:Dts IFA Template:Nowrap Culloden Hotel 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2021 Template:Dts FAW Meeting held by videoconference<ref name="ReferenceA">Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, delegates did not meet in person</ref> N/A 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2022 Template:Dts<ref>Postponed from previously scheduled date of Template:Dts -- see {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

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FIFA Meeting held by videoconference<ref name="ReferenceA"/> N/A 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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CitationClass=web

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2023 4 March FA Template:Nowrap Wembley Stadium 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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2024 2 March SFA Template:Nowrap Cameron House 1 1 1 1 4 75% citation CitationClass=web

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ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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