The future of our game – potential changes
There is never a dull moment with Fifa. The governing
body of our game is never far from controversy and recently we’ve read several
reports on proposed changes to our game that are radical, to say the least. We
fully expect most of these ideas to be scrapped but we found some of them so
amusing that we thought we would look at them in more detail. We’ve highlighted
some of the rational ideas but also some of the more “interesting” ones as well
so what exactly do Fifa have in store for the beautiful game over the next few
years?
The Offside Rule
The current technical development director of Fifa is
Marco Van Basten and along with new Fifa president Gianni Infantino,
have already announced that more teams will be added to the World Cup in time
for the 2026 tournament. However, during an interview with a German newspaper,
Van Basten revealed more potential changes including alternations to the
offside rule.
Marco Van Basten and along with new Fifa president Gianni Infantino,
have already announced that more teams will be added to the World Cup in time
for the 2026 tournament. However, during an interview with a German newspaper,
Van Basten revealed more potential changes including alternations to the
offside rule.
By alterations, the technical director actually meant
scrapping the offside rule altogether! He argued that games such as hockey work
well without this rule and that it would make the game more exciting due to the
opportunity for attacking players to score more goals. Of course, there are
some obvious problems with removing the offside rule and we simply cannot see
it happening anytime soon. A crazy suggestion.
scrapping the offside rule altogether! He argued that games such as hockey work
well without this rule and that it would make the game more exciting due to the
opportunity for attacking players to score more goals. Of course, there are
some obvious problems with removing the offside rule and we simply cannot see
it happening anytime soon. A crazy suggestion.
Introduce a Basketball-Style Foul
System
System
This is another idea that Van Basten and his
colleagues came up with much to the amusement of the wider footballing
community. Fifa has suggested that football should be more like basketball when
it comes to punishing fouls within the game. It has been suggested that our
game should adopt a five foul rule whereby if you committed five fouls you
would be asked to leave the field. Our yellow and red card system is certainly
not perfect but this just seems like a ludicrous idea for so many reasons. We
would find it
better to play bingo soccer than implementing this
wacky change. One for the rejected list!
colleagues came up with much to the amusement of the wider footballing
community. Fifa has suggested that football should be more like basketball when
it comes to punishing fouls within the game. It has been suggested that our
game should adopt a five foul rule whereby if you committed five fouls you
would be asked to leave the field. Our yellow and red card system is certainly
not perfect but this just seems like a ludicrous idea for so many reasons. We
would find it
better to play bingo soccer than implementing this
wacky change. One for the rejected list!
Reducing Number of Games
This is a point that has been debated to death. Many
will argue that fixture congestion is a real problem for the game and in Britain
especially, there is no winter break allocated. There is an argument that
reducing the number of games from 80 to a maximum of 50 could offer serious
benefits and this would include both international and domestic fixtures. Of
course, most European
leagues
have a different number of matches per season so that would have to be
considered as well. Would we really like to see less old firm games? It could happen!
will argue that fixture congestion is a real problem for the game and in Britain
especially, there is no winter break allocated. There is an argument that
reducing the number of games from 80 to a maximum of 50 could offer serious
benefits and this would include both international and domestic fixtures. Of
course, most European
leagues
have a different number of matches per season so that would have to be
considered as well. Would we really like to see less old firm games? It could happen!
Referee Interaction
This one is certainly a lot more realistic than
removing the offside rule. The basic idea would be that only the captain of a
football team would be able to speak to the referee. It cannot be denied that
there is a constant wave of protestation by players towards the referee when a
decision is made on the pitch. The referee is often bombarded by players
after a decision is made and this could be countered by only allowing the captain
to speak to the referee
with dignity.
removing the offside rule. The basic idea would be that only the captain of a
football team would be able to speak to the referee. It cannot be denied that
there is a constant wave of protestation by players towards the referee when a
decision is made on the pitch. The referee is often bombarded by players
after a decision is made and this could be countered by only allowing the captain
to speak to the referee
with dignity.
Other games such as rugby generally enjoy better
relations between players and referees and allowing only the captain to speak
to the match official could really benefit the game as a whole. Games such as
rugby have much better relationships between players and match officials so
perhaps this is one that Fifa should consider implementing into our game. It
would certainly stop players flooding the referee in an attempt to influence
his decision making.
relations between players and referees and allowing only the captain to speak
to the match official could really benefit the game as a whole. Games such as
rugby have much better relationships between players and match officials so
perhaps this is one that Fifa should consider implementing into our game. It
would certainly stop players flooding the referee in an attempt to influence
his decision making.
What
do you think will happen to the beautiful game in future? Do you believe big
changes are on the way?
do you think will happen to the beautiful game in future? Do you believe big
changes are on the way?