Football changes not just on the goal-line

[MikeyT]

http://www.givemefootball.com/premier-league/football-changes-not-just-on-the-goal-line

Football will come a step closer to the introduction of goal-line technology this weekend, when the International Football Association Board meets to discuss the test results of eight systems vying for the multi-million pound contract.

If successful, the meetings could mean the technology could be in use as early as next season, the most radical change to the game since the back pass rule was introduced in 1992.

While the move will appease many who have called for it's inclusion in the modern-game for several years, it's a further step away from the sport's grass roots. In a world where technology is intrinsic to every facet of life, in sport football had dodged the bullet somewhat.

The introduction of technology will not only open the floodgates to further changes in the game, but draw an end to endless supporter debate and conjecture.

As for what the IFAB should be debating this weekend, look no further than GMF's comprehensive guide.

Receiving a caution for over-celebrating

Michael Owen, among others, said there is no better feeling than scoring a goal and often players are quick to show their delight in the heat of the moment. Those who govern the game were quick to stamp out any expression of joy, by urging officials to book players who celebrate over-zealously.

God forbid that players crave to celebrate a goal with their supporters, who have spent their precious pounds and often travelled several hundred miles to see their team.

In the case of Jordon Ibe, who became Wycombe Wanderers' youngest ever goalscorer last October, the 15-year-old was booked for celebrating with his family on his league debut.

Now with Liverpool, Ibe's opportunity to thank his family, who were liable to have given so much to aid his development, was ruined by the petulance of the football authorities. I hope they slept well that evening.

Kicking the ball out to allow treatment

Currently, referees are obligated to stop the game when they feel a injury is sufficient to receive treatment. Prior to the alteration in the rule, teams would kick the ball out of play when a player was injured immediately, to allow for treatment.

The Premier League's new take on the rule in 2006 has largely failed to make a difference, with the theatrics of players and the existence of the previous rule meaning we've drifted back to where we started.

Referees come under substantial pressure from players and supporters when they don't call a halt to the game, when they're only obligated to for head injuries, while the opposing team are unsure whether to play on, given the riot they would spark should they score while an opposing player is down.

Players have even begun to exploit the rule, feigning injury, allowing the game to be stopped, receiving no treatment and just punting the ball back into the defensive third. A sorry state of affairs.

Introducing retrospective action for diving

Granted, this could perhaps open the floodgates for other retrospective action, but the issue of diving is too readily dismissed by the footballing authorities. At the moment, referees are required to judge during the game, whether a player has dived or not, and if they miss it the incident is brushed under the carpet.

Such is the stigma attached to diving that officials are hesitant to brandish yellow cards, which frankly is paltry punishment for such an offence.

If the Football authorities truly want to eliminate diving from the game, then taking action after the game would set a precedent and work as a warning to those willing to take the chance. Far stronger than some meaningless poster campaign.

[AyewJoking]

Its bull that introducing goal line technology would increase the gap between the top level and grass roots.

Its at the top level where the big money comes in so it makes sense.

It shouldnt even be likened to the pass back rule because I dont see goal line technology as an "in game" rule. It is simply a really easy way of erasing baffling and guesswork refereeing decisions.

[Captain...]

Some interesting points there, should goal line technology be introduced, I think that it needs to be much faster than in Rugby, the amount of time taken to rule out Strettle's try at the weekend was a bit ridculous and still wasn't clear. Technology has other uses too such as penalty decisions, you often have the ref and the linesman looking at each other over corner and throw in decisions, but I don't know how you would actually run it. One option could be a tv ref just watching it from a different angle with the option to watch one instant replay and who has the power of telling the ref he is wrong, but the ref can't consult him directly for decisions.

As for the other changes, I agree entirely with the booking for over celebrating, it is nonsense, people strive for 90+ minutes to score a goal and are right to celebrate when they do, I think refs should have the option of booking a player if the celebration is deemed to cause a safety risk, such as diving into the crowd or doing an Adebayor or an offensive word on a t-shirt. I don't understand why you get booked for taking your t-shirt off, I don't understand why players can't keep their shirt on knowing they will get booked, and one of my favourite moments was King pulling Waggy's shirt down as he was about to whip it off.

The same with retrospective action for diving, I think this needs to be tougher anyone throwing themselves to the ground regardless of any contact should be punished, refs need to be tougher and allow contact to be mad ein genuine challenges and also give free-kicks when players don't go down after being fouled.

Kicking the ball out for injuries is a constant frustration, but has improved since the World Cup when there was just a ridiculous amount of play acting to slow the game down.

[Ashley]

The solution to goal line technology. The solution is to have a micro-chip inside both post and one in the cross bar there would also be one in the football used. Should the ball cross the line it would beep.. The referee has a device attached to him when linesmen flag for offside, they press a button on the flag which gives the signal to the ref? No? So why can't it be done with a football and goalpost.

[Jordan]

IMO, football would be officiated much better if there were two referees on the pitch.

Basketball and ice hockey do it effectively on much smaller playing surfaces, and ice hockey also has two linesmen.

[Captain...]

The solution to goal line technology. The solution is to have a micro-chip inside both post and one in the cross bar there would also be one in the football used. Should the ball cross the line it would beep.. The referee has a device attached to him when linesmen flag for offside, they press a button on the flag which gives the signal to the ref? No? So why can't it be done with a football and goalpost.

Where would you put it on the ball? you can't exactly have it in the centre of it, I don't know if you could have one at each "pole" and it would be able to determine the exact positioning of the whole of the ball as the 2 chips crossed the line, but then would it still work if the chips cross the line but the whole ball doesn't because the keeper saves it, then what about when it bounces on the line and spins back, the chip would have to be able to accurately predict the spin of the ball to know if had crossed the line or not.

I'm sure all these things are possible, but it is not as simple as sticking a chip in a ball.

IMO, football would be officiated much better if there were two referees on the pitch.

Basketball and ice hockey do it effectively on much smaller playing surfaces, and ice hockey also has two linesmen.

For some reasons the more officials we have the worse they get, did you see some of the Europa league matches with 1 ref 4 linesman and a 6th official and they were still getting decisions wrong. If you think someone else has a better view of the incident you just wait for someone else to make the decision and no decisions are made.

I think we can certainly learn a lot from rugby with the way the officials communicate with the players and the other officials, and the fact they are miked up is brilliant, could you imagine the Beckford red if the refs were miked up and it was broadcast to the fans and the managers.

[Gold Coast Fox]

The main things that needs to change in football are not on the pitch but off it.

Ticket prices: The price of football is starting to price people out of the game and they are increasing year after year.

Player wages: No doubt the main reason for the constant increase in prices, meaning 'lesser clubs' will soon have no chance of competing in any form of the game, also seeing more and more clubs go into administration every year.

Governing body's: Football has become so corrupted its embarrassing, the likes of Sepp Blatter and the Qatar world cup bid being the just 2 examples.

Corporate greed: Sky is bad enough but when only 60 000 REAL fans can go to the Carling cup final because 30 000 tickets have been given away to sponsors, well that really is a piss take. And it seems it is starting to happen in other sports events e.g. london olympics.

All in all: Long gone are they days where the likes of Blackburn could win the premier league and the average man could afford to buy a ticket without giving up his petrol money.

Rant over.

[Haydos]

Haven't read comments so far but IMO (I don't know if this 'guide' is what they'll actually be referring to or not but from the looks of it it's encouraging)...

Cautions for celebrating (over-elaborately)...

Common sense - If top is removed then there should be no booking unless player take an unnecessary time to put it back on OR there is a potentially offensive slogan on shirt (Maybe a rule included about slogan being in native language and if it isn't then booking is deemed acceptable?)

Kicking the ball out

Referees should stop play for serious and/or head injuries (this is what I thought the rule was currently). The whistle should be blown at the referees discretion when they believe that a genuine ​head injury has occurred and/or when they believe an emergency injury/season threatening injury occurs. This includes broken bones, torn muscles, players clearly in pain after a pre-determined amount of time.

Retrospective action for diving

This can be implemented solely for diving currently and I cannot see why It shouldn't be immediately from the start of next season. Controversial challenges could be appealed by opposing teams in the same way red card decisions are and they would be reviewed by an independent panel. In most cases this would result in the correct decision (the same way red cards are interpreted) and going on a review, correct decisions would far outweigh incorrect decisions in my opinion.

[leicsmac]

I know I've made this point before, but I'll say it again as I believe it is another topic on the agenda this week with TPTB:

Change the rules regarding deliberate handballs on the line.

Especially late in the game, a red card (which isn't always the handicap people think it is) and a penalty (which can be missed) are not fitting punishments for stopping a clear goal.

So change things around: in all incidents where a red card and penalty would be awarded, instead award a yellow card and give the goal.

Not only is that more fitting - as in practically all these incidents a goal would have been scored anyway (hence the red card/penalty) it will act as a deterrent against such cheating in the future. I do feel strongly about this - Suarez's act at the WC just confirmed what I thought all along...there is a definite loophole in the rules to prevent a goal in this way by sacrificing a player, and I don't think that is in the spirit of the game.

[Haydos]

I know I've made this point before, but I'll say it again as I believe it is another topic on the agenda this week with TPTB:

Change the rules regarding deliberate handballs on the line.

Especially late in the game, a red card (which isn't always the handicap people think it is) and a penalty (which can be missed) are not fitting punishments for stopping a clear goal.

So change things around: in all incidents where a red card and penalty would be awarded, instead award a yellow card and give the goal.

Not only is that more fitting - as in practically all these incidents a goal would have been scored anyway (hence the red card/penalty) it will act as a deterrent against such cheating in the future. I do feel strongly about this - Suarez's act at the WC just confirmed what I thought all along...there is a definite loophole in the rules to prevent a goal in this way by sacrificing a player, and I don't think that is in the spirit of the game.

Completely agree. Although against 'tradition' there is literally NO reason why this shouldn't be the rule. It makes perfect sense and actually 'speeds up' the game for those with a 'slows the game down' disposition. Also, it prevents blatant cheating.

[The Year Of The Fox]

Its bull that introducing goal line technology would increase the gap between the top level and grass roots.

Its at the top level where the big money comes in so it makes sense.

It shouldnt even be likened to the pass back rule because I dont see goal line technology as an "in game" rule. It is simply a really easy way of erasing baffling and guesswork refereeing decisions.

Rubbish. To a point lower league teams could be stopped from making their way up through the divisions due to goal line technology not being implemented.

[davieG]

Rubbish. To a point lower league teams could be stopped from making their way up through the divisions due to goal line technology not being implemented.

It's surely more economical in the longer run and more practical considering there seems to be a shortage of match officials in the lower leagues than having 2 extra goal line officials which FIFA seem to favour.

[RowlattsFox]

I would look at rule which says it must be a straight red for handball and 'last man' incidents, the decision should be made on the judgement of the referee as to whether he felt it was a professional foul/handball or a genuine attempt to tackle the player of the ball or block a shot. Too many players are harshly sent off when they are last man.

For example when a striker cuts across a defender and goes down knowing that the ref will show the defender a red, what can the defender do? Same for defenders and keepers who go for the ball but mistime the tackle.

It gives power to the ref, which is brave I know, but it seems a fairer way of doing it to me.

[AyewJoking]

The main things that needs to change in football are not on the pitch but off it.

Ticket prices: The price of football is starting to price people out of the game and they are increasing year after year.

Player wages: No doubt the main reason for the constant increase in prices, meaning 'lesser clubs' will soon have no chance of competing in any form of the game, also seeing more and more clubs go into administration every year.

Governing body's: Football has become so corrupted its embarrassing, the likes of Sepp Blatter and the Qatar world cup bid being the just 2 examples.

Corporate greed: Sky is bad enough but when only 60 000 REAL fans can go to the Carling cup final because 30 000 tickets have been given away to sponsors, well that really is a piss take. And it seems it is starting to happen in other sports events e.g. london olympics.

All in all: Long gone are they days where the likes of Blackburn could win the premier league and the average man could afford to buy a ticket without giving up his petrol money.

Rant over.

To be fair, didnt they "buy" it? On a much smaller scale than todays budget albiet.

[MPH]

IMO, football would be officiated much better if there were two referees on the pitch.

Basketball and ice hockey do it effectively on much smaller playing surfaces, and ice hockey also has two linesmen.

oh no.... he just went all american on us....

We have linesmen already in footy - you dont have them in basketball or Hockey so we already have more eyes on the players than those sports as it is... This is not about the amount of people watching but the ability of the human brain and eyes to process all of this often at such lightening speed...

[Captain...]

I know I've made this point before, but I'll say it again as I believe it is another topic on the agenda this week with TPTB:

Change the rules regarding deliberate handballs on the line.

Especially late in the game, a red card (which isn't always the handicap people think it is) and a penalty (which can be missed) are not fitting punishments for stopping a clear goal.

So change things around: in all incidents where a red card and penalty would be awarded, instead award a yellow card and give the goal.

Not only is that more fitting - as in practically all these incidents a goal would have been scored anyway (hence the red card/penalty) it will act as a deterrent against such cheating in the future. I do feel strongly about this - Suarez's act at the WC just confirmed what I thought all along...there is a definite loophole in the rules to prevent a goal in this way by sacrificing a player, and I don't think that is in the spirit of the game.

I would say it is still a red card and a goal awarded, but only in those clear cut cases where it would have definitely gone in without any shadow of a doubt, like the Suarez incident, and I kinda love him for doing it, I would do the same thing and celebrate like he did after the penalty was missed. I guess it is a penalty goal, like a penalty try in rugger.

[Captain...]

Actually while we are on the subject of rule changes, I would like to change the handball rule,

Where the ball makes contact with the hand unintentionally and an advantage is gained an indirect free kick is awarded.

I am so sick of seeing the ball get fired into the box and it hits the hand of somebody who has no chance of getting their hand out the way, the ref either has to award a penalty which is harsh, or let the attack break down and the defensive team clear which is also harsh as he handled the ball. It would give the refs more flexibility rather than having to make a game changing decision trying to judge the intention of a defender. If it is deliberate freekick/penalty and a yellow/red card, but if not the refs need some inbetween measure they can use for handballs in the box.

[Leicfox]

Anyone read this??

http://www.culture.gov.uk/images/publications/Football_governance_15427_Cm_8207_2.pdf