Canada Soccer confirmed it received permission from the International Football Association Board (IFAB) to implement the 2019-20 Laws of the Game for this year’s Canadian Championship. In addition, the Canadian Premier League will implement a list of changes the IFAB approved earlier this month.
The changes are as follows:
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A more precise and detailed definition of what constitutes a handball;
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A player being substituted now must leave the field at the nearest boundary line;
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Yellow and red cards can now be issued for misconduct by team officials;
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The ball no longer has to leave the penalty area on goal kicks and defending team free kicks;
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Measures will be taken to deal with attacking players causing problems in the defensive “wall,” including requiring attacking players to keep a distance of one metre;
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Changing the dropped ball procedure;
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Giving a dropped ball in certain situations when the ball hits the referee;
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The goalkeeper only being required to have one foot on the goal line during a penalty kick attempt. Canadian Premier League players and staff will be introduced to the new Laws upon gathering in the Dominican Republic next month for the continuation of preseason.