FIFA will drop the triple punishment for penalties from June 1 confirming that Craig Thomson got it wrong when he refused to send off Andrew Considine during Aberdeen’s 2-1 win over Celtic in September.
Under the law change when a penalty results from a genuine attempt to play the ball the punishment will be a yellow card rather than red and a penalty.
If the offence involves ‘violent play or pulling or pushing’ a red card and penalty will continue to be awarded.
After being pulled back by Considine inside the six yard box Griffiths said: “I was very surprised he only got a yellow card.
“I was going to score, there was no doubt about that. I was about to whip it around the goalie. I was three or four yards away from goal so he’s got to be sent off.
“If it’s up at the other end I’m positive, I’d put my mortgage on it, that Craig sends one of our players off.”
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Explaining the law change to the FIFA website following a meeting of the International Board in Cardiff Gianni Infantino said: “If the goalkeeper or defender in the penalty area genuinely and honestly tries to challenge for the ball then there will not be a red card any more, only a yellow card.
“For other instances, violent play or pulling or pushing which has nothing to do with getting the ball, there will still be a red card and a penalty. It will come into effect on 1 June, for UEFA EURO 2016 and the Copa America Centenario it will already be in effect.”
Under the new ruling, if applied correctly, Efe Ambrose wouldn’t have been red carded in Celtic’s League Cup semi-final defeat from Ross County.