Sat Mar 15 19:40:00 UTC 2025: ## UEFA’s Plea for Rule Change Rejected: IFAB Holds Sole Authority

**Madrid, Spain** – Following controversy surrounding a disallowed goal in the recent Atlético Madrid-Real Madrid match, former footballer Marco van Basten urged UEFA to address the issue of unintentional double touches in penalty shootouts. However, experts are clarifying that UEFA lacks the authority to change the rules of the game.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB), a body composed of representatives from the four British football associations and FIFA, holds the sole power to amend football’s Laws of the Game. The IFAB’s structure reflects the sport’s origins in the British Isles, granting each British association one vote and FIFA four. A three-quarter majority is required for any rule change.

While UEFA can propose rule modifications, as it did regarding Julián Álvarez’s disallowed goal, the final decision rests solely with the IFAB. Any change proposed would require extensive review and could not be implemented before the 2026-27 season at the earliest. UEFA’s role is limited to setting participation conditions for its tournaments, not altering the fundamental rules of the game itself. The recent IFAB annual meeting, attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Pierluigi Collina, approved rule changes for the 2025-26 season, but the UEFA proposal was not among them.

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