The IFAB made the decision "in principle" at its meeting in Belfast, meaning a player sent-off for a straight red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity, when conceding a penalty, is no longer suspended for the following match.

Portuguese legend Figo vowed to end the much-debated triple punishment rule when he unveiled his "For Football" manifesto in London last month.

"This shows that changing football for the better is not only needed but it's feasible," said the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year.

"The decision taken is a first positive step forward even if it would have been better for the IFAB to address the penalty and red card issue, by foreseeing a yellow instead of a red card in some cases."

The most eye-catching proposal announced in the former Barcelona and Real Madrid star's manifesto is the intention to hold discussions over whether the FIFA World Cup should remain in its current 32 teams, or be increased to 40 or 48 teams.

His proposal for a 48-team World Cup would see two tournaments of 24 teams taking place on separate continents, with the final stages of the tournament being played out in one nation.

Luís Figo unveiled his "For Football" manifesto at Wembley Stadium in London last month ©Getty Images


Figo has also promised to create and more transparent FIFA by improving the structure of the organisation, including merging the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee to be independent, and could call the President to account.

"I strongly believe the other ideas I propose in favour of all the 209 National Associations, players, coaches, fans and officials are essential to the healthy development of football," he added.

The former Portugal captain is also in support of introducing goal line technology, as well as testing sin-bins for unsporting behaviour towards referees, and a return to the "old" definition of the offside rule - where a player is judged offside whether directly involved in the play or not.

The FIFA Presidential election, due to take place at the Congress of world football's governing body in Zurich on May 29, pits Figo up against Swiss incumbent Sepp Blatter, along with The Netherlands' Michael van Praag, head of the Royal Dutch Football Association, and FIFA vice-president Prince Ali Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan.

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