Quote:The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has published changes to the laws of the game for the 2016/17 season, the most notable altering sending-off and cautionable offences inside the penalty area.

The previous 'triple-punishment' rule meant that a player who denied a goal-scoring opportunity was automatically red-carded and handed a suspension, as well as giving away a penalty.

However, the law has now changed so that players committing accidental fouls, that deny a goal-scoring opportunity, are not automatically sent-off, but cautioned instead.

Players will still be sent-off for holding, pulling or pushing, not playing the ball or having no possibility to play the ball, serious foul play, violent conduct or deliberate handball.

Referees' powers have also been extended so that they can send-off a player before kick-off, from the official's pre-match pitch inspection onwards.

Announced on Thursday, the new laws also state the ball will also be able to move in any direction from kick-off, rather than only move forward.

Players who are injured by a challenge punishable by a yellow or red card can now have quick treatment on the field, rather than having to leave, which previously gave the offending team temporary numerical advantage.

IFAB announced last month their intentions to change the laws following a comprehensive, 18-month review, led by former English Premier League referee David Elleray.

The IFAB unanimously approved the revision, which they identified as a 'once in a generation' opportunity to address anomalies and inconsistences in the laws.

The IFAB, the game's law-making body, also approved a two-year trial period of video technology to assist referees, to be used in four cases: to determine if a goal has been scored, red cards, penalties and mistaken identity.

Quote:England have returned to the top 10 nations in world football, according to the latest FIFA world rankings.

Roy Hodgson's side, who drew 2-2 with Ecuador on Wednesday, have moved up one place on the list which is topped by reigning world champions Spain.

Germany are second and World Cup hosts Brazil move up one place into third, replacing Portugal who drop into fourth.

Argentina and Switzerland have both moved up two places into fifth and sixth respectively, while England's World Cup Group D opponents Uruguay lie seventh.

Italy remain unchanged in ninth ahead of England with Belgium tucked in behind Hodgson's side in 11th.

Croatia, who face Brazil's in the opening game of the World Cup next Thursday, move up two places into 18th.

England have fluctuated in the rankings since Hodgson's appointment in May 2012 with the 66-year-old inheriting a side ranked seventh in the world.

They have been as high as third and as low as 17th in the 25 months since he took charge.

Meanwhile, Scotland have moved down five places to 27nd position but Wales, who lost 2-0 to the Netherlands in a friendly on Wednesday, are up six spots to 41st place.

Republic of Ireland have slipped four places to 70th positon while Northern Ireland have dropped six places to 90th in the rankings.

Quote:Football Association accused of failing to act over Conference South match-fixing investigation

The Football Association has come under fire for failing to question three Conference South clubs after bookmakers stopped taking bets in the wake of suspicious betting patterns last season.

The Football Association has come under fire for failing to question three non-league clubs about suspicious betting patterns on matches last season.

Bookmakers stopped taking bets on a number of Conference South matches involving Billericay Town, AFC Hornchurch and Chelmsford following irregular betting activity, a BBC investigation found.

The FA told clubs to "remind players and officials of their responsibilities under the rules", but all three club chairmen told the BBC none of them have been questioned over the affair.

Former head of the FA's compliance unit, Graham Bean, described the governing body's failure to contact the clubs was "disgraceful".

He told the BBC: "It is my belief that the FA tend to stick their heads in the sand at suggestions of match-fixing and tend to give a perception that they don't think it actually exists.
"When I was at the FA, I once raised the idea of having an intelligence hotline where anonymous contact could be made to report wrongdoing. I was laughed at for the suggestion."

The investigation found that hundreds of thousands of pounds was gambled on Billericay's match at Welling in November - the vast amount on Asian betting exchanges - despite only 408 spectators attending the fixture.

Billericay Town chairman Steve Kent told the BBC: "It was a phenomenal amount of money.

"There was more money bet on our game than on the Barcelona game [that week]. That's where the story came from. The FA and the league picked up on that but they did nothing about it.

"If there is a problem, let's sort it out, get rid of it and move on. The FA are the only ones that can do it really - they have the power."

He added: "I am calling for the authorities in this country to investigate the possibility of match-fixing at our level of football.

"How can they investigate alleged match-fixing involving my club when not a single person from the police, the FA, or the league made any kind of approach to us whatsoever? It's amazing."

An FA spokesman said: "The FA takes the matter of integrity extremely seriously. The FA does not confirm any details of investigations or enquiries made, or indeed whether they are ongoing."

Edited by Ben Bloom

Quote:Leeds United are up for sale again after owners Gulf Finance House (GFH) confirmed they are looking to offload the club. GFH only bought United on 21 December but in the company's statements for the year ending 31 December 2012, they have revealed an 'active plan' to sell their stake in LUFC Holdings Limited.

Bahrain-based GFH also described the acquisition of Leeds as a 'bargain purchase'. "The Group has an active plan to sell its stake in LUFC Holdings Limited, and accordingly, the asset and liabilities acquired were classified as held-for-sale and presented in the consolidated statement of financial position," GFH stated in the company's accounts for 2012. Subsequent to the year end, the Group has commenced negotiations relating to the sale of its stake in LUFC Holdings Limited."

Local businessman Steve Parkin has been linked with a fresh attempt to buy the club by local media after he failed in his previous attempt.

To add to the sense of uncertainty around Elland Road, Leeds manager Neil Warnock has indicated he will leave at the end of the season if they do not make the play-offs.

United are seven points adrift of the play-off places with eight games to go in the regular season.

Quote:Blackburn Rovers have sacked manager Michael Appleton after less than three months in charge at Ewood Park.

Appleton only replaced former boss Henning Berg on January 12 having been recruited from fellow Championship side Blackpool - where he had previously been manager for just 65 days - but has been dismissed following a disappointing run of results that have brought just four wins from 15 games.

The 37-year-old - who began the season in charge of Portsmouth - becomes the fourth manager to be sacked by controversial owners Venky's since taking over the club in November 2010.

Appleton's brief tenure included a famous FA Cup fifth round win at Arsenal but his side were then knocked out in a quarter-final replay by Millwall earlier this month and have sunk to 18th in the Championship table.

Quote:Wolves chairman Steve Morgan has admitted that the club have not made any financial plans for relegation to League One. The Midlands club currently sit second from bottom in the Championship after a run of thirteen games without a win, and manager Dean Saunders has yet to register a single victory since taking charge.

Wolves, who were relegated from the Premier League last season, have a wage bill of £25million, with chairman Morgan revealing that the club are losing £6.5million per year. Financial issues would only increase if the club suffer a second successive relegation.

"It's up to us to make sure we don't get into a tailspin," Morgan said.

"The contracts were all done when we were in the Premier League. There was no question or thought about going into League One.

"None of the contracts take that into account."