FIFA and ch-ch-changes

[MC Prussian]

A FIFA task force has been created in order to simplify the rules surrounding penalty incidents.

Whereas of now, penalties involving harsh fouls in the penalty box automatically resulted in a penalty kick, a red card against the offender plus a three-match ban.

Now, German great Franz Beckenbauer, who is part of the task force, said "in the usual case, a penalty kick is already harsh enough".

In the future, red cards should only be issued in cases which the defending player used brutal force or if a handball occurs.

"In all other cases, a straight talking to should do the trick" Beckenbauer added.

Also, FIFA is in talks of abandoning the Active and Passive Offside rule.

Beckenbauer: "Those two rules just don't fit together, it's all too complicated. Recently, I've come more and more to the conclusion that referees, linesmen as well as football fans don't really understand it."

"The Offside Rule is fundamental, but we need to find a simple solution and definition what it really is."

"Football is meant to be a simple game with simple rules, and that's what we're aiming at."

Other members of the task force include former top referee Massimo Busacca, as well as player legends like Pelé, Fernando Hierro, Christian Karembeu or Cafù.

The suggestions will be submitted to the "international Board", which will further discuss the subject at a meeting in March 2012.

http://www.dailymail...understand.html

[Yojoe36]

Now, German great Franz Beckenbauer, who is part of the task force, said "in the usual case, a penalty kick is already harsh enough".

In the future, red cards should only be issued in cases which the defending player used brutal force or if a handball occurs.

What?! A Luis Saurez type handball, or ANY handball, like Mills? Poorly written

[StanSP]

I'd hope he means a handball that directly affects a goalscoring opportunity, so yes, the Suarez incident would be a fitting example.

[leicsmac]

I always thought the deliberate handball on the line rule was a bit skewed, and for me the Suarez incident just confirmed it. Yes, the person responsible gets sent off and a penalty is awarded, but penalties can be missed, and late on in a game having 10 men isn't as massive a disadvantage as is thought, IMO.

I think there should be an amendment along these lines. Obviously, like handball in any other area, it relies on referee interpretation; if the referee is CERTAIN the ball would have gone in the goal had the offender not handled the ball (and 99% of goalline handballs are pretty clearcut in that area), he should do two things:

1.) Yellow card the person responsible.

2.) Award a goal to the attacking team.

That way, the attacking team gets the goal they should have got, and it makes the act of deliberately cheating and handling the ball to stop a goal redundant, as you concede anyway and get a booking for your trouble.

[Kenners]

I always thought the deliberate handball on the line rule was a bit skewed, and for me the Suarez incident just confirmed it. Yes, the person responsible gets sent off and a penalty is awarded, but penalties can be missed, and late on in a game having 10 men isn't as massive a disadvantage as is thought, IMO.

I think there should be an amendment along these lines. Obviously, like handball in any other area, it relies on referee interpretation; if the referee is CERTAIN the ball would have gone in the goal had the offender not handled the ball (and 99% of goalline handballs are pretty clearcut in that area), he should do two things:

1.) Yellow card the person responsible.

2.) Award a goal to the attacking team.

That way, the attacking team gets the goal they should have got, and it makes the act of deliberately cheating and handling the ball to stop a goal redundant, as you concede anyway and get a booking for your trouble.

That's making it so much harder though. A red card and penalty is the right way for something like that in my opinion. Yes its unfair in some cases, but imagine the controversy it could cause if a ref thinks the balls going in and its hitting the post e.c.t. and if he has to be certain then more teams will be given penaltys than there will be automatic goals to avoid controversy and its justmore pressure for the ref.

[BoneDog]

Does this mean we might be going back to the proper offside rule where if you're off, you're off, with none of that interfering with play stuff?

[Guest MattP]

Good.

10 v 11 just totall ruins a football match and 90% of the time it isnt even justified.

I'd rather have a system where if you are fouled 1 on 1 you just get a penalty even if it's outside the box and no card is given, its far more sensible than forcing sides down to 10 men for a long period of time, even more so with the higher standard at the top end of the game.

[leicsmac]

That's making it so much harder though. A red card and penalty is the right way for something like that in my opinion. Yes its unfair in some cases, but imagine the controversy it could cause if a ref thinks the balls going in and its hitting the post e.c.t. and if he has to be certain then more teams will be given penaltys than there will be automatic goals to avoid controversy and its justmore pressure for the ref.

Alright then, allow me to rephrase my stance.

ANY goalline handball incident where at the present time a ref would award a penalty and a red card, instead would be awarded a yellow card and a goal. I'm pretty sure at the present time the ref has to be sure that an obvious goal was prevented to award a red card in any case, so little will change.

Also agree with Matt about red cards being used too spuriously - reserve them for dangerous play/abuse only.

[Haydos]

Good.

10 v 11 just totall ruins a football match and 90% of the time it isnt even justified.

I'd rather have a system where if you are fouled 1 on 1 you just get a penalty even if it's outside the box and no card is given, its far more sensible than forcing sides down to 10 men for a long period of time, even more so with the higher standard at the top end of the game.

A lot of the time though it is blatant cheating.

I agree with the outside of the box idea, if the player is through on goal then fouling him outside the box and only giving away a fk is a good deal IMO.

A penalty (wherever, as long as it's a goal scoring opportunity), no sending off, but a ban of some sort would be the solution for me.